Construction of the Medal of Honor Museum and Foundation is under way in Arlington, Texas - a place to pay tribute to those who've earned the nation's highest military award for valor in combat.

It was 160 years ago this week that President Abraham Lincoln gave out the first medals to those who distinguished themselves in combat. Leaders from the National Medal of Honor Foundation, including Texas' retired Army Gen. Patrick Brady, gathered in Washington, D.C., for a commemoration ceremony. Brady said for him, the medal represents ideals that make a nation great.

"We're trying to establish the values that are pillars of American excellence - courage, sacrifice and patriotism - and get young people to understand those things are important, to our survival and to their success in life," he said.

Since 1863, about 3,500 men and one woman have received the Medal of Honor, 65 of whom are still living. A bill is set to be introduced in Congress that would also approve a monument for the National Mall in Washington.

Chris Cassidy, president and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Foundation, said the museum will bring recipients' stories of heroism and bravery to life for generations to come.

"We're focused on the stories of normal Americans who did something completely above and beyond when the nation needed it," he said, "and what we aim to do is inspire people to be more courageous in their own lives, through stories of the Medal of Honor recipients."

Cassidy said the museum in Arlington is expected to open in March 2025.

Organizations are asking people to join them in a fast on Thanksgiving in solidarity with people suffering from war conditions in Gaza.

Groups including the Council on American-Islamic Relations Oregon and the Movement for Black Lives are calling for a global fast to highlight the dire humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza.

Je Amaechi, digital organizer for Freedom to Thrive, said Thanksgiving Day was chosen for a reason.

"That was intentional because we know a lot of people are gathering to celebrate, to feast," Amaechi explained. "We also want people to experience a slight aspect of deprivation so they can feel a little bit of what Palestinians experience daily in Gaza."

At least 12,000 people in Gaza have died since Israel began its military action there. Israel began the assault in response to an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200 people.

Amaechi noted the event is inspired by fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Black August, which has a fasting tradition held in solidarity with and in commemoration of Black political prisoners.

"We were both drawing from our own fasting traditions and our cultures and understanding from those traditions that there can be sort of a spiritual framework or spiritual underpinning to the political work we're doing," Amaechi emphasized.

Amaechi added organizations like Freedom to Thrive will continue to work toward peace in Gaza.

"Fasting is not enough and we recognize that there has to be more than that," Amaechi acknowledged. "But we're hoping this can be sort of like a spiritual challenge that can help us reflect on our privileges and just consider the stark contrast with those suffering under occupation in Gaza."

Some Missourians fear an increase in hate crimes in the wake of a six-year-old's murder in Illinois this week - an incident authorities say was motivated by the Israel-Hamas war. The U.S. Department of Justice's current hate crime fact sheet finds religion-based hate crimes in Missouri have more than doubled since 2019.

Captain Corey Carlisle of the Kansas City Police Department said there are no immediate safety concerns for Kansas City metro area residents.

"We closely monitor any threats or potential threats that could be targeting members of our community. If we receive any information that there is a potential for violence towards a certain person, place or thing, KCPD will implement extra patrol and security measures to ensure the safety of all of our community members," Carlisle said.

On Thursday, the Council on American Islamic Relations or CAIR cancelled its 29th annual banquet. The hotel scheduled to host the event this weekend - in Arlington, Virginia - has received multiple threats targeting the hotel, its staff, CAIR and American Muslims.

The most recent DOJ statement involves hate crime threats made this week in North Carolina toward Muslims. And the FBI has just released detailed 2022 data on over 11 million criminal offenses nationwide, including religion-based hate crimes.

Yasir Ali, CAIR Missouri Chapter Board Chair, said it is being proactive and planning talks about guidance with authorities around the state.

"There is the fear, especially what happened in Chicago, with a six-year-old that was stabbed 26 times," Ali said. "The community is in fear. It's nothing based on evidence at this point - like, within Missouri - but overall, there is this fear of an increase of Islamophobia."

In August, a Missouri man was sentenced to prison and damages for hate crime and arson violations, after pleading guilty to burning down the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center in 2020.


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In Washington, D.C., today, American Jews from Pennsylvania and across the country are converging on the U.S. Capitol to call for an end to the war in Gaza.

It has been more than a week since Hamas attacked Israel.

Rachel Kipnes, student rabbi at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and member of the Jewish Voice for Peace rabbinical council, said she is one of about two dozen rabbis from Pennsylvania participating in the protest, to demand peace in Gaza.

She explained they are opposed to waging war against the people of Gaza, most of whom are not affiliated with Hamas.

"To show our solidarity for the demand for a cease-fire now, an immediate end to the war in Gaza," Kipnes explained. "We are going as rabbis to counter the false argument that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism."

Kipnes pointed out they agree with the cease-fire demand by members of Congress. She added thousands of Jews also gathered outside the White House on Monday, calling for an end to the violence. A Marist poll found 63% of Americans said they favor the U.S. showing public support for Israel but 79% said they fear the war will lead to a larger Middle East conflict.

As the protest at the Capitol plays out, President Joe Biden is in Israel to show solidarity. Kipnes noted they have a message to President Biden, to "end military support" to Israel.

"Today especially, we are gathering our voices as rabbis to tell President Joe Biden that we disagree with his support of the fascist government of Israel," Kipnes asserted. "We're ready for him to listen to the rising majority of Jewish folks who disagree with the escalation in Gaza today."

She added military equipment being used is paid for and made on U.S. soil. Kipnes emphasized the attack by Hamas has already resulted in the death of the thousands of people, and the violence will continue to escalate without a cease-fire.