Medal of Honor Host City Program

The City had completed its Cooke County Veteran's Memorial several years earlier, but the committee’s vision was to go beyond a static reflection of patriotism and establish a multi-faceted program that could inspire.

The result was to initiate a program honoring Medal of Honor recipients. In short order it was decided that the fledgling program should do something directly for these men who had served the nation with such heroic distinction and at the same time engage the community, especially its youth, in the process.

Recipients of the nation’s highest award for valor would be invited to visit Gainesville whether as a destination, or even while passing through North Texas. They would be welcomed and time permitting, shown the city and give Gainesville the chance to show its gratitude. As a small token, each Recipient would be provided a daily stipend to defray his expenses while visiting the city.

It was hoped that by making the host program known to the membership of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society that traveling Recipients would be encouraged to visit.

Seed money was provided through the City of Gainesville and not long after, the first Medal of Honor Recipient to visit was Col. Don “Doc” Ballard, a Vietnam Recipient. Impressed by his reception in 2001, Ballard has returned every year since.

Additionally, the late BGen Robert E. Galer and his wife, Sharon, maintained a summer home at nearby Lake Kiowa and were very supportive in the program’s early days.

The committee then created the next level of the Host City Program’s mission by inviting recipients to participate in an annual, three-day celebration around March 25th—Medal of Honor Day.

Since then more than a dozen Medal of Honor Recipients have come to appreciate Gainesville’s small town hospitality and most have returned several times over the years.

Gainesville’s Medal of Honor Host City Program is successful due to wide community support and through the commitment of its volunteers.

The annual Medal of Honor Day Celebration features a number of activities that afford the area residents the chance to meet and talk with America’s greatest heroes. The focus is on relaxed, casual activities that are “child-friendly” in order to allow the Recipients’ message of patriotism and success in life to reach the youth.

Each Recipient has the opportunity to speak at local schools, and since the program began students from all across Cooke County have been inspired by their message of patriotism and commitment to the ideals that have made America such a great nation.

The Recipients have a chance to play in the Host City Golf Tournament, and see Gainesville’s Victorian homes, many of which are on the Texas Historical Register.

Brunch at Gen. and Sharon Galer’s Lake Kiowa home was always a highlight of the Medal of Honor Day activities and continues in the General’s memory as “The Galer Brunch.” The WWII Recipient passed away in 2005.

Medal of Honor Recipient Mike Thornton was instrumental in obtaining a Gainesville High School $5,000 scholarship for the graduating senior who continues his or her post-secondary education. It was Gainesville High School's largest scholarship for 2 years.
Medal of Honor Recipient Robert O’Malley was on hand in Gainesville on Nov. 10, 2005 to autograph Medal of Honor Host City first day covers which bore the block of Distinguished Marines U.S. postage stamps on their first day of issue.
Gainesville’s Walk of Honor Trail commemorates the visit of each Recipient by planting a red oak tree fronted by an engraved granite plaque personalized for each honored guest.
Visitors are immediately aware they have entered the nation’s only Medal of Honor Host City as the distinctive blue and white, star-spangled ribbon is emblazoned on the city’s water towers.

Since it’s inception, Gainesville’s Medal of Honor Host City Program has been represented at various regional and national functions of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, The Medal of Honor Foundation, the Texas Municipal League as well as other civic and veterans’ organizations.

Other communities that have expressed an interest in becoming a Medal of Honor Host City Program community have been provided the necessary information in hopes that the program concept can spread to other regions of the country.

The Medal of Honor Host City Program is a 501(3)(c) non-profit corporation and welcomes your tax-deductible memberships and donations.

Individual annual memberships are $10. Bronze are $10-$99; Silver is $100-$249, Gold is $250-$999, and those who participate at the Platinum level membership -- $1,000 and above-- will receive a First Edition of Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty by portraitist Nick Del Calzo. This landmark book contains the portraits and stories of more than 125 Medal of Honor Recipients.

Personal checks and money orders (sorry, no credit cards at this time) may be mailed, payable to:

Gainesville Medal of Honor Host City Program
200 S. Rusk Street
Gainesville, TX 76240