Medal of Honor Host City Program

• The Medal of Honor Host City (MOHHC) Program began in 2001
• Gainesville Texas is the only city in America to host Medal of Honor (MOH) Recipients annually in our community.
• As of May 1, 2019, we have hosted 58 of our nation’s 71 living Medal of Honor Recipients.
• There have been 3506 Medal’s of Honor awarded in the history of our nation beginning with the Civil War.
• There is one woman (Mary Edwards Walker) who received the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.
• The Medal of Honor Host City Program event is scheduled in April of each year.
o The week typically begins on Wednesday with a welcome at DFW airport, where MOH Recipients fly in from all over the United States. A motorcade with in excess of 100 police vehicles and over 500 motorcycles escort the recipients back to Gainesville where they are cheered along the route.
o Thursday, the MOH Recipients visit local schools to talk to students about the Medal of Honor. In the afternoon, the MOH Recipients visit MOHHC Park. That evening, a Patriot Dinner is served at the Gainesville High School where patrons can eat and meet the recipients.
o Friday the MOH Receipts visit the Home Grown Hero’s Walking Trail in Gainesville, where a Red Oak tree is planted in the honor of every MOH Recipient who visits Gainesville. That afternoon the recipients get a Taste of Texas on a local Ranch or unique to Gainesville. That evening is our primary fund raising event, which is our annual banquet currently held at the NCTC Fieldhouse.
o Saturday we have our full military parade, which last a minimum of an hour. It is full of patriotic themed floats and vehicles, featuring the MOH Recipients. After the parade we have a book signing at the Civic Center and then a private dinner that evening.
o Sunday, the recipients travel home.
• The MOHHC established a scholarship in collaboration with NCTC in 2019.
• The MOHHC and NCTC are currently working on building a museum on the main NCTC campus in Gainesville.