Honor America - Our History

"HONOR AMERICA," a program originally sponsored by the American Historic and Cultural Society, Inc., of Washington, DC, was started by the Reverend Billy Graham, Bob Hope, J. Willard Marriott and Hobart Lewis as a one-time, one-day event held in the nation's capital on July 4, 1970. Its purpose was to show the citizens of the United States and the people of the world in general that there are many things right with this nation despite the adverse effect of then current events and much unrest in the country at that time.

The event was so successful, it was decided to make it an annual affair. Later it was expanded to a twenty-one day celebration, from Flag Day (June 14) through Independence Day (July 4) with the title: "A TWENTY-ONE DAY SALUTE TO THE NATION." The HONOR AMERICA idea was picked up spontaneously in other parts of the country, including Melbourne, Florida.

HONOR AMERICA, Inc., is a product of the original Washington, DC project. Its programs and projects, administered from the organization's office in Melbourne FL, soon spanned the entire year.

It started in South Brevard County, Florida, in 1971, as a committee of what was then the Melbourne Area Chamber of Commerce. Committee Chairman John O. Cooper of Satellite Beach, a retired US Army officer, founded and organized the chamber unit.

The Chamber's Honor America Committee annually promoted the theme "Honor America and Respect the Flag," during the 21 day period from Flag Day (June 14) through Independence Day (July 4). The committee was highly successful in getting area businesses and homeowners to participate during those three weeks.

In 1974, after three years of a limited program, committee members decided to enlarge membership in the group, broaden its scope of activities, and increase the activity time-span to a yearlong program. To accomplish this, they formed an independent nonprofit organization, elected a board of directors, a slate of officers and established an office. Bylaws to govern the new organization were drafted and approved by the directors. A schedule of monthly board meetings was then established. Honor America, Inc. was chartered by the State of Florida as a nonprofit organization October 18, 1974.

Officers and directors voluntarily serve at their own expense, to further the aims and goals of Honor America, Inc. They are area residents representing the business, professional and retired segments of Brevard County. The officers and directors solicit memberships in Honor America, Inc., from among citizens to help in its program of increased community patriotic activities.

The Liberty Bell Memorial Museum along with its Plaza of Flags, was was founded in 1985 and is designated as a memorial to those United States Veterans who honorably served, were POWs, or lost lives in any United States military operation in war or peace.