Medal of Honor Museum Moves Forward

By Holly Jackson, Patriots Point

Ray Chandler, Chairman of the Patriots Point Development Authority, announced today that the Congressional Medal of Honor Society signed an agreement in Gettysburg, PA, pledging their unconditional support to one National Medal of Honor Museum to be built at Patriots Point. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society also pledged its support for a Congressional designation of the museum as the National Medal of Honor Museum.

“This is a tremendous honor for Patriots Point and the state of South Carolina,” Patriots Point Development Authority Chairman Ray Chandler said.  “The recipients of our nation’s highest honor for gallantry in combat could have chosen any city in our nation as the home of their legacy museum and would have been welcomed with open arms.  The fact that they chose Patriots Point and our state speaks volumes for our reputation as a bastion of patriotism and national pride.”

“I want to thank and congratulate our Authority board, the Patriots Point Foundation board, and the members of the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation for their undying dedication to seeing this through.  Most importantly, we need to thank Major General James Livingston, himself a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, without whose efforts and commitment this day would not have been possible,” Chandler said.

“Throughout this process we have enjoyed the support of Governor Haley and the members of the Budget and Control Board, Senator Leatherman, Representative Brian White, Comptroller General Eckstrom, and the Treasurer Curtis Loftis, as well as Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell and the Speaker of the SC House of Representatives Bobby Harrell.  The ratification of this agreement by all parties is the last step in the process to allow the museum foundation to begin the task of raising the funds to make the museum a reality,” Chandler added.

The $100 million National Medal of Honor Museum is projected to open within 10 years and will be located on property adjacent to the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.