Washington, D.C. – In a rare show of unity, the United States Senate today voted unanimously to pass S.858, the Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act. Introduced by U.S. Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) with a bipartisan group of cosponsors, the bill, named after the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor Recipient, locates the new National Medal of Honor Monument near the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It creates a permanent and prominent space for all Americans to pay tribute to the Recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor in combat and reflect on the values for which they – and the Medal – stand.
Following the unanimous passage of the bill in the House of Representatives earlier this year, the legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Chris Cassidy, President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, hailed the vote as a powerful moment for the nation. “In a time of division, this unanimous vote is a reminder of what can bring us together: respect for those who risked everything so that we could live free,” he said. “Medal of Honor Recipients are ordinary Americans who, in the most extraordinary moments, chose others over themselves. They are living proof of what it truly means to have courage in the hardest moments and be selfless when it matters most. Today, the Senate has ensured that their sacrifice and their values will forever have a place of honor in America’s front yard, inspiring generations to come.”
The Monument has enjoyed strong support by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with Congress first voting unanimously in 2021 to authorize its creation. According to that original legislation, the National Medal of Honor Monument will serve not only as a “respectful extension” of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy as the creator of the Medal, but also as a tribute to “what ordinary people can accomplish when working for the greater good.” Of the 40 million Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, fewer than 4,000 have received the Medal – and only 61 are alive today.
“The National Medal of Honor Monument will preserve their stories and challenge each of us to live lives worthy of their example,” added Cassidy. “All of us who cherish the values of the Medal look forward to seeing this bill signed into law.”
In addition to Sen. Justice, the bill has twelve co-sponsors: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), Sen. Shelley Moore-Capito (R-WV), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Reuben Gallego (D-AZ), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Sen. James Risch (R-ID), Sen Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).
When the National Medal of Honor Monument opens on the National Mall, visitors will stand in the shadow of Lincoln and gaze upon a tribute to those who went above and beyond for their fellow Americans. It will be a place for reflection, gratitude, and inspiration – a place where every visitor, young and old, can leave resolved to live up to the values embodied by the Medal itself: courage, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, patriotism and citizenship.
The creation of the monument in Washington, D.C. will complement the National Medal of Honor Museum, which opened on March 25 in Arlington, TX. No federal funds will be used to build the monument. The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation will be responsible for raising funds to cover expenses associated with the project.
The National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute is inspiring individuals by honoring and preserving the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat.
The Museum, which opened on March 25, 2025, serves as a national landmark located in America’s heartland in Arlington, Texas, and provides an unrivaled, interactive visitor experience that commemorates the historical thread of sacrifice, patriotism, and courage that connects members of the United States military service past and present. It is the Museum’s mission to tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients in a dynamic and interactive setting that will inspire visitors to recognize the potential for the extraordinary that resides in us all.
Through dynamic and far-reaching curriculum and programming, the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute is bringing to life the core values inherent to the Medal of Honor in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities around the country.
In 2021, The National Medal of Honor Monument Act was signed into law, paving the way for the monument’s placement in Washington, D.C. Soon, Americans and visitors of every nation will have the opportunity to reflect on the values represented by those whose selfless and courageous actions have served to safeguard freedom and democracy the world over.
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