The Medal of Honor at Battleship Cove
At Battleship Cove, a display of the Medal of Honor introduces the history of an award associated with extraordinary courage. The medals are small objects, but their significance rests in the actions they recognize: individuals risking their lives above and beyond the call of duty.
The Medal of Honor originated during the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln approved legislation creating a Navy medal in December 1861, followed by an Army medal in July 1862. Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson introduced the legislation for the Army award, giving the Commonwealth a connection to its beginnings.
The award’s appearance and requirements developed over time. Early medals differed from the familiar designs suspended from pale blue ribbons. Three versions eventually emerged, for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with distinct imagery surrounding the central star. Each represents the same exceptional standard of valor.
An early medal displayed alongside later examples makes that evolution tangible. The changing ribbons, shapes, and symbols trace the history of the decoration itself, while the accompanying accounts direct attention to the people who received it. Understanding a medal requires looking beyond its design to the circumstances in which someone acted.
Within Battleship Cove, these objects belong to a larger setting devoted to military service and remembrance. The preserved ships reveal the equipment and environments of naval warfare; the Medal of Honor display brings attention to individual decisions made within such dangerous circumstances. Together, they connect the material history of war with the courage of those who served.
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