For two decades, Gainesville, Texas has played host to over 50 recipients of the Congressional Medal Of Honor, the highest medal in the U.S. military given for acts of valor. This year, the tradition continues. 

The 5-day long annual event begins with a motorcade picking up the visiting Medal Of Honor recipients from DFW Airport, usually involving hundreds of law enforcement vehicles blocking freeway on-ramps so that the guests can cruise all the way to Gainesville with a completely open interstate. This year the motorcade will travel west on 114 to 35W and then to I-35 on Wednesday afternoon, and it is a sight to see. Many people gather on overpasses with flags and signs, welcoming the heros to North Texas. 

The rest of the events take place in Gainesville, which has been called the "Most Patriotic Small Town In America". The group of events take place as part of the Medal of Honor Host City Program, which is the hosting organization. Following the motorcade, there will be a tree dedication ceremony, several dinner events, a parade through downtown Gainesville and a meet-and-greet book singing event.

The Medal Of Honor is a rare achievement, with an average of 60-70 living recipients at any time. It is reserved for admirable acts of tremendous valor in battle, and is issued by the President. To date, there have only been 3,493 medals issued in our country's history. With typically between 10 and 20 recipients attending the annual event in Gainesville, it's a unique opportunity to meet and celebrate an American hero.

You can visit Medal of Honor Park throughout the year, which sits at the "gateway" to Gainesville on California street and Interstate 35. There is a large monument to the Medal Of Honor recipients, featuring a bronze statue of the famous insignia on the medal. 

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Photo by Alexeinikolayevichromanov, used with permission by Creative Commons License.