Arlington is set to pay homage to a hometown hero of World War II, Colonel Neel E. Kearby, with a special dedication at the future National Medal of Honor Museum. On National Medal of Honor Day, the museum foundation announced the naming of its theater in his honor, a year before the scheduled grand opening. Kearby, a distinguished pilot, was commended for his bravery and valor in the Pacific Theater during World War II, according to the City of Arlington, Texas.
The announcement was part of ceremonies that brought together Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, community leaders, and the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation (NMOHMF). "With the naming of the Colonel Neel Kearby Theater, we celebrate and honor this Texas hero’s tremendous legacy of service and sacrifice," NMOHMF President and CEO Chris Cassidy said, according to the City of Arlington, Texas. The city anticipates the museum will be a place of learning where Kearby's valor, along with those of fewer than 4,000 individuals who have received the nation's highest military honor, will be preserved.
Mayor Ross expressed pride and anticipation for the museum's role in Arlington's community. "Colonel Kearby is not just one of Arlington’s greatest heroes, but one of America’s greatest heroes," he told attendees at the event. His remarks underscored the importance of recognizing American valor and the impact of hosting the museum in Arlington, set to bring together residents and visitors to reflect on the extraordinary actions of the nation's service members, per the City of Arlington, Texas.
Arlington City Manager Trey Yelverton also highlighted the significance of the museum for the city at the event. "The opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington next March will do more than draw hundreds of thousands of new visitors to our city," Yelverton said, stressing the importance of passing on the values represented by the Medal to future generations within, and also beyond Texas shores, as per the City of Arlington, Texas.
Colonel Kearby, an Arlington High School and University of Texas at Arlington alum joined the Army Air Corp and became a storied pilot, who on October 11, 1943, remarkably shot down six enemy aircraft despite being outnumbered. His final mission was over New Guinea on March 5, 1944., where his aircraft was shot down, leading to his death. The museum, currently under construction, aims to be an educational and cultural hub with a footprint of over 100,000 square feet, including a 31,000-square-foot gallery for exhibitions.
