Character Development Program (CDP)

The Medal of Honor Character Development Program (CDP) is a resource designed by teachers to provide students at grade level K-12 with opportunities to explore the important concepts of courage, commitment, sacrifice, patriotism, integrity and citizenship and how these values can be exemplified in daily life.

With the opportunity to see positive role models, the depth and breadth of our students’ insight and reflection after interacting with these materials teaches how we can all choose to be our personal best.

As a proud advocate of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, we hold this resource and opportunity for our youth in the highest regard.

To date we have helped accomplish the following:

• Completed 7 successful CDP teacher training sessions
• 18 school visits by one or more Medal of Honor recipients
• Helped create and launch the new national Elementary CDP, including 2 teacher writing workshops
• Over 300 teachers trained in the state from 80+ schools and districts
• Passed legislation amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.232, naming the MOH CDP as one the preferred character education programs in Minnesota.

For more information on the CDP please visit: https://www.cmohs.org/lessons/overview

Design Provided by HGA

Location

The Memorial was approved by the 2016 Minnesota Legislature to be constructed under the Veteran’s Services Building at the main entrance of the Mall in prominent view of the Capitol. The Memorial design provides symbolic ties to the Medal itself and also the character virtues and values Medal of Honor recipients leave as their legacy to our youth. The Memorial will honor Medal of Honor and Medal of Valor recipients, veterans, our youth, and future generations.

In 1931, Cass Gilbert’s third and last sketch of the approach to the Capitol Building featured a tall spire reflecting Gilbert’s vision and desire that there be a memorial tribute to veterans at the far south end of the Capitol Mall. After WWII, a decision was made to honor veterans with a building to provide necessary military veteran services, that now also provides a visual backdrop at the south end of the Capitol Mall. It is there that there is another circle of memorials and tributes to military veterans and wars, not unlike the circle of monuments that surround in close proximity the Capital Building. Also since WWII, a Court of Honor tribute to veterans has been added forming a circular area on the mall north of the Veteran Services Building with most recently a WWII War Memorial in the middle of that area. Also more recently and either side of the Court of Honor a Vietnam and Korean Memorial and a Military Family Tribute have been added.

May 31st, 2017: The Omnibus Legacy Finance bill allocating $250,000 for the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial was passed by the Minnesota House and Senate along with Governor Dayton’s signature on May 31st, 2017.

The Memorial Committee along with the Capitol Area Architectural Planning Board and state officials had agreed that the State of Minnesota needed to show that they too are invested into this bi-partisan project. The State agreed and would like to partner in this community engagement endeavor with local sponsors to show a unified front and to promote character statewide.

Senator Carla Nelson, Bruce Anderson, Richard Cohen and Foung Hawj (SF 566) brought the bill to the Senate and Representative, Bob Dettmer, Bob Gunther, Leon Lillie and Mary Murphy (HF707)  brought the bill to the House with identical language. It reads as the following:

A bill for an act relating to arts and cultural heritage; appropriating money for Medal of Honor commemorative memorial.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA MEDAL OF HONOR COMMEMORATIVE MEMORIAL.

$250,000 in the fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the commissioner of administration to complete design and construction of a memorial in the Capitol area to honor all Minnesota Medal of Honor recipients. This appropriation is not available until the commissioner determines that at least $250,000 is committed to the project from nonstate sources, and there are sufficient resources to complete the project, as required in Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.502, and Laws 2016, chapter 189, article 13, section 64.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BE OUR PARTNER IN THIS COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE!

Please call or email us!

info@mnmohmem.org

(651) 332-9416

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Make a Donation

-All donations are tax deductible.
-All donors are acknowledged and provided statements for tax purposes.
-All contributions of $500-$999 or more will be offered a numbered and signed 16″x 20″ limited edition print of the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial by award-winning artist Randall Raduenz (includes shipping).

 (12″x 16″ image area)

The Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial is a Minnesota non-profit corporation with IRS 501c3 and EIN Numbers upon request.Questions please email us: info@mnmohmem.org

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ADVOCATES

“On October 3rd, 2016 I participated in the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial. That event was exceptional and I was proud to be a part of it along with currently serving on the Honorary Board for the Memorial. Building a memorial is an undertaking but there are many people helping to promote character and honor the veterans and recipients of the great State of Minnesota. On behalf of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, we appreciate the Memorial’s dedication to the youth with the Character Development Program.” TOM KELLY Medal of Honor recipient

“The Twin Cities Medal of Honor Convention was a big event in the State of Minnesota last October. It was great to be a part of it and the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial Ground Breaking Ceremony on October 3rd. Most people don’t see the amount of effort that everyone who is helping to build the Medal of Honor Memorial, it is a big thing and I believe we have to get as many people behind it. To date, the Memorial Board have had help with those who testified on committees, including testimony to and from the Capitol Area Architectural Planning Board along with passing this recent legislation. Working with the State of Minnesota we are thankful that the State approved Bill 707, as this is something that people will come to from across the state, it is an educational Memorial that provides insight into the Medal of Honor educational program, the Character Development Program. This Memorial ties together so many aspects to pay honor and respect to our recipients and veterans while teaching our youth. It was an honor to author the legislation and to work it through the committee process.” BOB DETTMER MN Representativ

MINNESOTA MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

72 Medals of Honor are Accredited to Minnesota, “For the Conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity in Action at the Risk of Life Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.”

See Minnesota Governor’s Proclamation  Honoring Leo Thorsness 

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 Memorial Board

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Honorary Board

About the Medal of Honor Memorial and the Promise of Youth 1/31/20

Producer/Moderator Shannon Loehrke – MN Senate Media Services 

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Memorial Ground Breaking 10/3/16

What an honor it was to have the Ground Breaking Event on the Capitol Mall on October 3rd, 2016. A very special thank you to all who helped contribute to this truly remarkable day. A special thank you to those who were a part of our program: Prelude: The Red Bull Band – 34th Infantry Division Narrator & Announcement of the Official Party: Col. Anthony Polashek Bugle Call “To the Colors”: Bill Crowder National Anthem: Soloist, Lt. Col. Tim Swanson (Ret) Flyover of C130’s: 934th Airlift Wing Invocation: Chaplain, Col. Gen Bloomstrom (Ret) Welcome Speaker: Commandant of Ceremony, MG Larry Shellito (Ret) Address: Adjutant General, MG Richard C. Nash Address: Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States of AmericaSociety President, Capt. Thomas Kelley (Ret) Address: Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial Board Member, Tiffany Kovaleski Address: Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial Chairman, John Kraemer Ceremonial Cannon Firing: New Ulm Battery God Bless America: Soloist, Lt. Col. Tim Swanson (Ret) Flyover: Army Air Corps Armed Forces Medley: The Red Bull Band – 34th Infantry Division Benediction: Chaplain, Col. Gen Bloomstrom (Ret) Bugle call “Retreat”: Bill Crowder And a very special thank you to Col. Scotty Lene, Capt. Katherine Jenrette, Jerry Kyzer, Tim Wullmoth and everyone at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs for all of their hard work helping run all of the elements behind the scene. The Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial also partnered with the Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters in MN to compile a book of all MN Medal of Honor recipients. This event would not be possible without the Medal of Honor Convention Twin Cities. We sincerely want to thank them for their participation and support, what a spectacular week it was to have our nation’s greatest heroes here in the great State of Minnesota!

See all photo’s on our   page!

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Publications

Jonathan Charpentier is the Memorial’s Official Photographer. For anyone looking for an amazing photographer, we highly recommend him! (612) 670-2264 or jc@jonathancharpentier.com.