Heritage Center celebrates Memorial Day with Gold Family letters

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Memorial Day is quickly approaching. This year, the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center is doing something very special for Gold Star families. 

“Downstairs, we are going to have a table setup for visitors to write a postcard letter to Gold Star families that are here in Chattanooga,” said Steven Thomas, Director of Operations at Medal of Honor Heritage Center. “So, if any Chattanoogans want to come out and you want to, please feel free.”

A Gold Star family is one whose loved one passed away in the line of duty. 

Thomas believes this is an important act to provide encouragement to those families. 

“I encourage everyone to reach out to someone that has lost a son or daughter in service to the nation to kind of get some support, because that trauma is oftentimes not what is shared and talked about openly,” Thomas said. 

The National Medal of Honor Center features various exhibits that have memorialized Medal of Honor recipients for their act of valor. 

Thomas says the Medal of Honor Heritage Center’s goal is to tell the story of heroic figures. 

“I talk to Medal of Honor recipients all the time. When they come into the building, they feel like they are a part of a team, because the people that come in here that visit ultimately leave with a better understanding of what services is in general,” said Thomas. 

And from these stories, Thomas hopes that people understand the humanity of the Medal of Honor. 

“To be able to find that humanity gives it meaning, and when other people can understand that part, they can find the meaning in their own lives,” Thomas concluded.