©South Bend Tribune -- May 23, 1999

The first national memorial honoring America's Medal of Honor recipients will be dedicated Friday in Indianapolis. The Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial recognizes the sacrifices made by the 3,410 military personnel honored since the nation's highest award for valor was established in 1861.

Tribune Photo/REBECCA BELLING

By CORY HAVENS
Tribune Staff Writer

Their country has bestowed upon them its highest award for military valor, but one honor has escaped the 3,410 recipients of the Medal of Honor.

Until now.

On Friday, the largest-ever gathering of Medal of Honor recipients will converge on Indianapolis for the dedication of the nation's first memorial honoring the medal-holders.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial sits on the north bank of the Central Canal in White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. It is the brainchild of John Hodowal, chairman of Indianapolis Power and Light Co. (IPALCO), an Indianapolis electric utility.

Hodowal was inspired by a June 1998 New York Times article about living recipients of the medal. He persuaded IPALCO's board of directors to finance construction and maintenance of the memorial.

The funds, estimated at $2.5 million, are to come from shareholders in the company and the cost will not be passed on to customers.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military honor, given by Congress for risk of life in combat beyond the call of duty. The medal was established in 1861.

Although Medal of Honor is the proper name of the award, many Americans call it the "Congressional Medal of Honor."

For that reason, the IPALCO board settled on the name "Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial" for the new facility, said Wendy Schwantes, a spokeswoman for the project. "That's the way people commonly refer to it," she said.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled in conjunction with the Indianapolis 500 auto race and 500 Festival, and the recipients will be honored throughout Memorial Day weekend.

IPALCO sponsors the 500 Festival Parade, and has invited all living medal recipients to serve as grand marshals and take part in the dedication ceremony.

Medal recipients also can take part in other 500 Festival events, such as a memorial service at 10 a.m. Friday at the American Legion Mall, the Xerox 500 Ball at 7 p.m. Friday at the Indiana Convention Center and the Lilly 500 Festival Family Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Victory Field.

So far, 99 of the 158 living medal recipients have accepted the invitation.

Tickets to the Memorial Service, ball, parade and concert are available by telephone at (800) 638-4296 or on-line at www.500festival.com.

The dedication ceremony is free and open to the public, with limited lawn and bleacher seating on the south side of the Central Canal. The ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday and will include a Navy jet fly-over, a military band, fireworks and patriotic songs by the Indianapolis Children's Choir.

The Medal of Honor Memorial consists of 27 curved glass walls among walkways and gardens. Each wall represents a specific conflict and contains the etched names of Medal of Honor recipients from that conflict.

Each evening at dusk, a sound system will play recordings of the medal recipients telling their stories or background about the conflicts in which they fought. During each recording, the wall associated with that conflict will light up.

There actually have been 3,429 medals awarded, as 19 men have received two. One woman has been honored.

Nearly half of recipients--1,520--were honored for actions during the Civil War. Somalia is the most recent conflict for which medals were awarded.

Weekend Events

Following are the events honoring the 99 living Medal of Honor recipients in Indianapolis Memorial Day weekend. Tickets to the events are available online at www.500festival.com or by phone at (800) 638-4296.

500 Festival Memorial Service

* When: 10 a.m. Friday * Where: American Legion Mall, Meridian Street and St. Clair Street

* Cost: free

* Notes: A traditional service will honor veterans and Medal of Honor recipients.

Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial dedication

* When: 3:30 p.m. Friday * Where: White River State Park

* Cost: free

* Notes: The ceremony will feature a Navy jet fly-over, a military band, fireworks and patriotic songs by the Indianapolis Children's Choir.

Xerox 500 Ball

* When: 7 p.m. Friday * Where: Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave.

* Cost: $125 for 500 Festival members, $150 for nonmembers

* Notes: Royal Crown Revue swing band will perform.

IPALCO 500 Festival Parade

* When: 9 a.m. Saturday

* Where: Streets of downtown Indianapolis

* Cost: $10 for 500 Festival members, $12.50 for nonmembers, $20 VIP seating, $25 Reviewing Stand on televised portion of route

* Notes: The Medal of Honor recipients will serve as grand marshals.

Lilly 500 Festival Family Concert

* When: 7 p.m. Saturday

* Where: Victory Field, 501 W. Maryland St.

* Cost: $1

* Notes: The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform patriotic songs, placing special emphasis on Medal of Honor recipients.

Indianapolis 500-Mile Race

* When: 10 a.m. May 30

* Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

* Cost: $20 general admission, reserve seats sold out

* Notes: The Medal of Honor recipients will ride in the parade lap preceding the race.