Officials of the Medal of Honor Heritage Center on Tuesday announced the center has reached a major milestone in its agreement with River City Company to build the new Heritage Center at the former Visitors Center building in the Aquarium Plaza. This milestone, to raise more than $3 million by the end of 2018, was made possible, in part, by a $250,000 gift from Farrow Family Foundation and a $100,000 gift from Mike and Amy Walden.
Since launching its capital campaign in August 2017, the Heritage Center continues to receive strong support within the veteran community, local business leaders and the philanthropic community, officials said. On top of the leadership gifts from the Farrow and Walden families, the Heritage Center also received a significant contribution from the Tucker Foundation and $500,000 from three anonymous donors, which brings the total amount raised to more than $4.1 million.
Major General Bill Raines, U.S.
Army (Retired) and chairman of the Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Heritage Center, said, “Our announcement today represents a major step forward in our efforts to build a new Heritage Center that will memorialize the acts of valor demonstrated by the recipients of our highest military award and educate the next generation about the six character traits associated with their gallantry, from the First Medals forward.
“Nearly 15 months ago, we launched our capital campaign with an aggressive timeline that many people thought was not possible. Yet, our veteran community and the philanthropic spirit of Chattanooga have come together to meet this challenge four months ahead of schedule. This means we can now secure our long-term lease with River City Company and move forward with building the new Heritage Center next year.”
Scheduled to open in early 2020, the 19,000-square-foot Heritage Center will feature 20 Medal of Honor recipients, including Andrews’ Raiders, Desmond Doss, Charles Coolidge, Alvin York, Ray Duke, Paul Huff, and Dr. Mary Walker – the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. Visitors can explore their dramatic stories through a series of immersive and engaging exhibits. Each experience will incorporate our innovative and curriculum-approved Medal of Honor Character Development Program that emphasizes the six character traits embodied in all Medal of Honor recipients – Courage, Commitment, Citizenship, Sacrifice, Integrity and Patriotism.
“The Farrow family proudly supports this effort to build a new Medal of Honor Heritage Center as we believe it will stand as a testament and tribute to America’s truest heroes who have sacrificed so much in service to us and our great nation,” said Franklin Farrow, co-founder and chief operating officer of Morning Pointe Senior Living. “It’s my hope that this gift will help bring Chattanooga and our community one step closer to embracing an important part of our City’s rich heritage that remains unknown to many people today – Chattanooga is the birthplace of the Medal of Honor.”
Mike Walden, president and co-founder of Walden Security, said, “The Medal of Honor Heritage Center provides our community with a special opportunity to build a lasting tribute to our nation’s greatest heroes – one that will also help educate future generations and inspire them to use these examples of courage, commitment, sacrifice, integrity, citizenship and patriotism to influence change in their own lives and communities. Amy and I are truly excited to be a part of this endeavor that will help mold the character of our youth for generations to come.”
General Raines said, “Our capital campaign continues to make significant strides, but none of this would have been possible without the initial leadership and vision of three people who choose to step up and become our very first lead donors – Greg Vital, Congressman Diane Black and Dr. David Black. Each of them understood the importance of this project being built in the birthplace of Medal of Honor and how it will play a critical role in preserving the important heritage of the Medal of Honor and the countless stories of the individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to earn the nation’s highest military recognition, especially for the recipients from the state of Tennessee.”
To learn more about the Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Heritage Center or get more information about supporting its capital campaign, visit www.mohm.org or call 423-405-3677.
Franklin Farrow