Chattanooga’s National Medal of Honor Heritage Center gives public a sneak peek at groundbreaking [video, photos]

Hixson High School Air Force JROTC 1st Lt. Christian Lewis, left, prepares to present the American flag during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The redesigned space is set to open in February of next year. Hixson High School Air Force JROTC 1st Lt. Christian Lewis, left, prepares to present the American flag during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The redesigned space is set to open in February of next year.

By Davis Lundy January 17, 2019 4 min read

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Medal of Honor Center

Chairman retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Raines gestures towards active duty military members for them to be recognized during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The redesigned space is set to open in February of next year.

Vice President of Construction retired Navy Rear Adm. Noah Long speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The redesigned space is set to open in February of next year.

Executive Director Keith Hardison speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The redesigned space is set to open in February of next year.

People make their way into the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center for a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The redesigned space is set to open in February of next year.

Dr. William Matthews looks at a video display showing what the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center will look like during a groundbreaking ceremony for the center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The redesigned space is set to open in February of next year.

Chairman retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Raines speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The redesigned space is set to open in February of next year.

Exhibit Images from the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center.

The invited guests, longtime supporters and vendors of the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center were still milling around the photographs and video on display Thursday when Andy and Chris Polahar walked in the ground floor of the visitor’s center near the Tennessee Aquarium.

The Polahars were the first Chattanooga citizens not affiliated with the ceremony to come and see what the museum will look like when it opens in February 2020. Despite the rain, others would follow in the two hours of public time at the museum.

“Both of us are history buffs,” said Chris, a former history teacher. “We love history. The museum will tell stories of heroism and bravery, the kinds of things you want your students to experience.”

Heritage Center Board Chairman Maj. Gen. Bill Raines and Executive Director Keith Hardison welcomed more than 100 invited guests to the official groundbreaking for the museum, named after Medal of Honor winner and Signal Mountain native Charles H. Coolidge. Among those who came for the event was Molly Hudgens, recipient of the Citizen Honors Award from the Medal of Honor Foundation.

Molly Hudgens / Photo from themedalofhonor.com

The foundation awards four medals to citizens each year who model the same character traits as those who have received the military Medal of Honor. There are currently 47 recipients. Recipients must be nominated by a Medal of Honor recipient, and the four are selected by all living Medal of Honor recipients.