DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - A motorcade of some of America's bravest heroes will travel through the area Wednesday afternoon.
About two dozen recipients of the Medal of Honor will arrive at DFW Airport for the annual Medal of Honor Week in Gainesville. This is the 19th year the city has served as host city for the event.
The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest award for military valor in action against an enemy force. The honor is generally presented by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress. Since 1863, only about 3,500 Americans have received the Medal of Honor.
Denton County Emergency Services Chief Jody Gonzalez says the Medal of Honor recipients are flying in from across the country. They will board buses at DFW Airport for the annual procession to Gainesville. "It's more like a motorcade, where there's going to be upwards of 550 vehicles participating in this motorcade. It should be eight to nine miles long," said Gonzalez.
The Medal of Honor motorcade will exit the south end of DFW Airport between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday. It will travel up to Highway 114 and head west to I-35-W before continuing north through Denton and up to Gainesville.
Gonzalez said local residents annually line the overpasses along the route. "Typically we have so many citizens in Denton County and our area cities that come out along the route and wave flags and, just more or less, pay tribute to these American heroes," he said.
More than a dozen fire departments and 40-plus law enforcement agencies from Denton County alone will be on hand to provide traffic control and salute the Medal of Honor recipients. Gonzalez said temporary closures and delays are expected along the motorcade route.
The honorees are expected to arrive in Gainesville around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. They will give school presentations on Thursday, take part in events including a tree dedication on Friday and participate in a parade and book signing on Saturday. Gonzalez said, "They're national heroes, and we really want to do everything we can to make their stay a very good stay here, and show support of them and all they've been through as recipients of the Medal of Honor."
Since 2001, the city of Gainesville has hosted 56 of the 74 living Medal of Honor recipients. For more information on Medal of Honor Week, visit medalofhonorhostcity.com.