Shortly after WWII a reflecting pool and a statute within the pool was built immediately north of the Veteran Services Building that is referred to as the Promise of Youth. The monument has not generally been understood and has been discredited for not being relevant to veteran recognition or issues. Additionally, the Promise of Youth monument does not and has not functioned as intended as a reflecting pool nor does the mechanical statute operate.
The Medal of Honor Memorial would occupy and be confined to the footprint of the existing reflecting pool and again function as originally intended as a functioning reflecting pool and operating mechanical statute along with being a Medal of Honor Memorial. A Medal of Honor Memorial within the footprint of the Promise of Youth reflecting pool would clearly and meaningfully convey the intended function of the Promise of Youth element that veterans in securing and maintaining our rights and freedoms have provided our youth with the means to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of all Americans.
A Medal of Honor Memorial located at the south end of the mall and visibly in full view from the Capital Building would appropriately honor the most admired and respected of all of our veterans. The honorable service and sacrifice of the individual Minnesota veteran would also be reflective in varying degrees of the character attributes and actions of the Medal of Honor recipients and all recipients of medals of valor.
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Historical Significance- Why Minnesota?
Minnesotans have faithfully served and sacrificed in all our nation’s wars. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Minnesota was the first state to offer soldiers to President Lincoln in defense of the Union. To the present day, Minnesotans have served our state and country with great distinction including awards of our Nation’s greatest honor, the Medal of Honor. A total of 72 Minnesotans has been awarded the Medal of Honor.
Minnesotans have been awarded Medals of Honor in all wars and conflicts from the Civil War through Vietnam. Of the 72 Minnesotans awarded the Medal of Honor, 3 were awarded for actions not during a time of war including Charles Lindbergh, who made the first plane flight across the Atlantic to France in 1927.
On the Minnesota State Capitol grounds, veterans are honored with memorials according to the wars in which they served. However, the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial is the first memorial to recognize the valor of the individual veteran exemplified by the Minnesota Medal of Honor recipients.
2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the presentation of the first Medal of Honor by President Lincoln. It was in 1864 that the first Minnesotan was awarded the Medal of Honor.