Memorial institution

Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial

The Oregon State Capitol Foundation documents thirteen individual portrait-and-citation plaques plus a separate Oregon-connected recipient list. M032 publishes named commemorative relationships for Arthur Junior Jackson, Nicholas Meaher, and John A. Murphy because the official history identifies Jackson at the dedication and explicitly documents the 2017 addition of Meaher and Murphy. These are memorial inscriptions, not original-medal custody records.

MOH-MUS-000147Evidence reviewed 2026-10-11Open to the public

Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial granite pillars.Oregon State Capitol Foundation · Source-attributed institutional image; owner-directed archive use ↗ · Source ↗

Historical context

About this institution

The Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial forms a paired landscape around the United States and Oregon flagpoles on the Oregon State Capitol grounds. Granite pillars carry bronze plaques that combine portrait likenesses, complete citations, and a broader roll of recipients connected with Oregon. The memorial was dedicated in 2004 and formally transferred to the people of Oregon during a ceremony attended by recipient Arthur Jackson.

Why it matters to Medal of Honor research

This memorial offers unusually clear official documentation of its physical plaque structure and later roster corrections. It allows researchers to distinguish individual citation plaques from a broader list plaque while tracing how state commemoration changes as recipient research is corrected.

Collection guide

What to look for

The following highlights summarize the strongest verified reasons to include this institution in the archive. They are a planning guide, not a promise that every object is on view at all times.

Thirteen plaques with a recipient likeness and full citation

Separate plaque listing additional Oregon-connected recipients

Arthur Jackson’s role in the 2004 dedication

2017 plaque update for Nicholas Meaher and John A. Murphy

Verified connections

Medal of Honor relationships

4 total

Collective Medal of Honor memorial

Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial pillars

The Oregon State Capitol Foundation describes granite pillars around the United States and Oregon flagpoles, with thirteen recipient likeness-and-citation plaques and a separate plaque listing additional Oregon-connected recipients. These are commemorative plaques, not medal objects.

Record: Oregon Capitol granite pillars and bronze plaques

Verified 2026-10-11 · Permanent

Evidence sources and scope

Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial history, design, and recipient updates ↗Oregon State Capitol Foundation

Official permanent memorial landscape; no original-medal custody inference.

State memorial recipient recognition

Arthur Junior Jackson

The official dedication history identifies Arthur Junior Jackson as the recipient who unveiled the pillars around the Oregon flagpole during the September 18, 2004 dedication. The relationship records named participation and memorial recognition, not custody of Jackson’s original Medal of Honor.

Record: Oregon Capitol Medal of Honor memorial plaques

Verified 2026-10-11 · Permanent

Evidence sources and scope

Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial history, design, and recipient updates ↗Oregon State Capitol Foundation

Official dedication participation and memorial recognition.

State memorial recipient recognition

Nicholas Meaher

The Oregon State Capitol Foundation states that an updated plaque installed in 2017 added Corporal Nicholas Maher, also known as Nicholas Meaher, after research identified his omission. The relationship is a documented memorial-list inscription, not an original-medal display.

Record: Oregon Capitol Medal of Honor memorial plaques

Verified 2026-10-11 · Permanent

Evidence sources and scope

Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial history, design, and recipient updates ↗Oregon State Capitol Foundation

Official 2017 plaque update; source uses Nicholas Maher aka Meaher.

State memorial recipient recognition

John Alphonsus Murphy

The Oregon State Capitol Foundation states that an updated plaque installed in 2017 added Drummer John A. Murphy after research identified his omission. The relationship is a documented memorial-list inscription, not an original-medal display.

Record: Oregon Capitol Medal of Honor memorial plaques

Verified 2026-10-11 · Permanent

Evidence sources and scope

Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial history, design, and recipient updates ↗Oregon State Capitol Foundation

Official 2017 plaque update.

Collection focus

Historical specialties

Granite memorial pillars around two Capitol flagpolesThirteen recipient likeness-and-citation plaquesOregon-connected recipient roll2004 dedication and 2017 rededication history

Service connections

U.S. Marine Corps · U.S. Army

Conflict connections

World War II · Indian Campaigns · China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion)

Visitor planning

Walk the northeast and northwest sides of the Oregon State Capitol to see the two flagpole groups of granite pillars. Because the Capitol grounds have undergone major construction and landscaping work, check current campus notices before relying on a particular pedestrian approach.

Oregon State Capitol grounds, 900 Court Street NE
Salem, Oregon, 97301
United States

Open location in OpenStreetMap ↗Official website ↗Current visitor information ↗Collection or exhibit information ↗

The map point is a qualified Capitol-campus orientation point, not a surveyed pillar location.
The official history identifies Elmer E. Fryar for a future plaque update; M032 does not claim that addition is already complete.
No original Medal of Honor or personal-artifact custody is claimed.
Capitol construction or landscape work may alter the most direct visitor route.

Admission prices, opening schedules, installation rules, and object availability are left to the institution because they can change.

Access status

Open to the public

Map point: 44.9388, -123.0303 · Qualified Official Capitol Campus Point

Institution sources

Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial history, design, and recipient updates ↗Oregon State Capitol Foundation · Priority 1
Oregon State Legislature building location and public hours ↗Oregon State Legislature · Priority 2

Archive standard

“Original Medal of Honor” relationships require direct source evidence. A location record is not described as a current public display unless the institution confirms display status.