MT. PLEASANT, S.C. — On Oct. 17, 2024, a pivotal event took place aboard the historic USS Yorktown at Patriots Point: The Leadership and Valor Dinner. During the event, plans to build a $75 million 50,000-square-foot training center and immersive visitor experience at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina were unveiled to guests. The center will be designed to educate a diverse audience, from government officials to high school students, by teaching leadership skills rooted in valor and integrity.
“When veterans inspire the citizenry, I think we all do better as a country,” says Donnel Beckles, managing VA advocate at Veterans Help Group.
The initiative emphasizes that leadership is not an innate trait but a skill that can be developed.
"These values that we talk about are character skills. Leadership is something that can be built."
The center will offer a variety of activities designed to provide experiential learning, helping individuals understand and embody the six pillars of the Medal of Honor: Courage, Integrity, Commitment, Sacrifice, Citizenship and Patriotism.
“Everyone has the potential to be a leader,” says Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry. “They just have to have the willingness to learn and listen. The event was to show the spirit of what this is about, how much energy there is behind this and how we’re going to get this center built.”
The leadership programs are not only about education–but shaping the future of the country.
“I think what this organization stands for is shaping the future of our country,” says Jimmy Robert, NBC Sports. “And I just don’t think there’s any more worthy pursuit,”
The National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership aims to become a beacon of hope and inspiration, imparting the values that have defined heroes and leaders throughout history.
Check out the full event recap below.
