Fort Polk officially unveiled its new Medal of Honor Center on March 25 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, honoring 29 Medal of Honor recipients connected to Louisiana and the Joint Readiness Training Center.

The Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, is awarded for acts of extraordinary bravery “above and beyond the call of duty” in combat. March 25 was chosen for the ceremony to mark the date of the medal’s first presentation in 1863, linking the nation’s historic origins to today’s recognition of heroism.

Col. Adam J. Barlow, Fort Polk garrison commander, highlighted the purpose of the new center. “We’re here for two reasons: to remember 29 Medal of Honor recipients and to dedicate this building to their sacrifice,” he said. “Today we pause to honor all service members, past and present, who have received this great honor.”

Since the creation of the medal, more than 40 million service members have served in the U.S. armed forces, but only 3,533 have received the Medal of Honor, underscoring its rarity. Louisiana has a strong connection to this legacy, with recipients memorialized throughout Fort Polk on streets, facilities, and monuments.

The ceremony concluded with attendees touring the newly repurposed center and viewing displays honoring the bravery and service of these distinguished individuals.