Students at Victor J. Andrew and Carl Sandburg high schools have the opportunity to learn about the nation’s highest and most prestigious military decoration, the Medal of Honor, awarded to American soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The National Medal of Honor Museum bus is a mobile museum honoring Medal of Honor recipients; it will make stops at both schools November 14 and 15, respectively.

Part of the National Medal of Honor Museum, the bus tells the stories of the country’s Medal of Honor recipients who embody the spirit of the Medal itself: courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism. 

The bus provides an immersive experience, allowing visitors to learn about Medal of Honor recipients without traveling to the permanent museum, which is scheduled to open on March 25, 2025, in Texas. In addition, the mobile museum hopes to perpetuate the legacy of what the Medal of Honor is and the legacy of the recipients who earned it. The hope is that the bus stops will inspire people to carry Medal of Honor values into their personal lives.

Prior to visiting the bus, Andrew and Sandburg US History students will become familiar with the stories of Medal of Honor recipients Audie Murphy, Roy Benavidez, and Kyle Carpenter. Students will understand the values of courage, commitment, and sacrifice in relation to the Medal of Honor recipients and through the use primary and secondary sources, students will identify how and where values have appeared throughout a recipient’s life.

Andrew Division Chair for Social Studies, Foreign Language and Art Dr. Doug Kaufman said, “The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest award for acts of valor in combat that a member of the armed forces can receive. Our students are lucky to have this unique opportunity to learn about the Medal of Honor and why it is so important, all while hearing the stories of a few of its remarkable and brave recipients. My hope is that these students will remember this experience long after they leave Andrew High School and District 230."

Likewise, Carl Coates, division chair for Social Studies, Foreign Language and Art, said, “The bus stop coincides with Veteran’s Day which is great timing. The Medal of Honor was created at the beginning of the Civil War, so students will learn about a few of the first recipients during their discussions on the Civil War unit.”