Annual Events
Medal of Honor Evening
The Medal Honor Evening is always held the first Monday in May. This annual fundraising dinner honors the service and sacrifice of one of the 15 Medal of Honor Recipients whose names are engraved on the Memorial.
- 2026 MSG Charles L. McGaha, United States Army, WWII, Professor John C. McManus
- 2025 Sgt. Edward Talley, United States Army, WWI, historian Dr. Richard S. Faulkner
- 2024 CPT Larry L. Taylor, USA, Vietnam, General (Ret). B.B. Bell, United States Army
- 2023 SSG Raymond H Cooley, USA, WWII, Author & Historian James M. Scott
- 2022 SGT Troy A. McGill, USA, WWII, Professor John C. McManus
- 2021 1SGT Milo Lemert , USA WWI, Dr. Mitchell Yockelson, United States National Archives
- 2019 SGT Elbert L. Kinzer, USMC, WWII, LtCol Edward T. Nevgloski, USMC
- 2018 SGT Alvin C. York, USA WW1, Dr. Michael Birdwell, Associate Professor of History at Tennessee Tech
- 2017 SGT James E Karnes, USA, WW1, Dr. Edward Lengel, Chief Historian, White House Historical Society
- 2016 SFC Ray E. Duke USA, Korea (POW), Dr. Michael E. Lynch, United States Army Heritage and Education Center
- 2015 T/Sgt Charles Coolidge, USA WW2, Lt. Gen (ret)Charles H. Coolidge, Jr.
- 2014 Pvt Calvin Ward, USA WW1, Mr. Jim Claborn, local historian and author
- 2013 1SGT Mitchell Stout, USA Vietnam, Judge Donald Wittenberger
- 2012 Cpl Paul B. Huff, USA WWII, Professor John C. McManus, Author and historian
- 2011 1LT Alexander Bonnyman, Jr. USMC WWII, Mr. Clay Bonnyman Evans, Author and Grandson of Lt Bonnyman
READING OF THE NAMES CEREMONY
Each Memorial Day, more than 100 volunteer readers gather at sunrise to read each of the 6400+ names engraved on the Memorial aloud. At the conclusion of the Reading, any newly added names to the Memorial are dedicated.
