(Knoxville, TN)  The Museum of East Tennessee History is honored to have been chosen as the permanent home for the 2014 Medal of Honor Quilt. This very special item was donated to the East Tennessee Historical Society by the 2014 Medal of Honor Convention held in Knoxville in September, 2014, a very successful three-day event celebrating medal recipients and one of the most popular venues thus far. The museum proudly displays the quilt for the public annually in honor of National Medal of Honor Day, celebrated on March 25 to commemorate the date the first Medals of Honor were presented in 1863 to six members of Andrews’ Raiders. The quilt is rich in symbolism, featuring the names of Tennessee’s 32 Medal of Honor winners, plus another 12 born in the state but serving elsewhere, the mottos for each branch of service, Knoxville’s Sunsphere, and a map with stitched outlines of all Tennessee counties, and more. 

 

About East Tennessee Historical Society

Established in 1834, the East Tennessee Historical Society is widely acknowledged to be one of the most active history organizations in the Southeast, and enjoys a national reputation for excellence in programming and education. For 182 years the East Tennessee Historical Society has been helping East Tennesseans hold on to our unique heritage -recording the events, collecting the artifacts, and saving the stories that comprise the history we all share.

 

The historical society pursues its education mission through publications, lectures, conferences, school programs, museum exhibits, and heritage programs such as the popular First Families of Tennessee and the Civil War Families of Tennessee. The East Tennessee History Center houses the staff and programs of the East Tennessee Historical Society, the Museum of East Tennessee History, the Calvin M. McClung Collection, and the Knox County Archives.

 

The Museum of East Tennessee History will be open on Friday, March 25, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Museum is located in the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37901. For more information about visiting the museum, call (865) 215-8824, email eths@eastTNhistory.org, or visit www.easttnhistory.org.

 

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