National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Celebrates Congressional Passage of Legislation to Establish Medal of Honor Monument in Washington, D.C.
…from the National Medal of Honor Museum
The Historic Legislation Now Heads to President’s Desk for Signature
[ Editor’s Note: This project did not get lost in the shuffle with the usual year end legislation rush to clear as much off the waiting list as possible before a tired Congress heads out for the Christmas break.
That said, I have to wonder why it took so long for the Senate when the House had already passed it, when it is an obviously non-controversial bill.
I must mention my objection to this having to be funded by the public, another Congressional grift, when with the Defense Budget in the stratosphere with money often blown on anything imaginable connected to the military, whether it is really needed or not as long as the money gets spent in a connected Congressman’s district.
The Federal government should have just written a check, or added it to the $10 trillion or so in national debt. I am of course the outlier in this thinking. This should have been done decades ago when more living recipients could have attended the event.
But I am happy that the last WWII recipient, Woody Williams, has a chance to attend the dedication if he makes it to 100 next year… Jim W. Dean ]
First published … December 18, 2021
Washington, D.C. – After unanimous passage in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, the National Medal of Honor Monument Act passed the U.S. Senate early this morning with overwhelming bipartisan support.
The legislation authorizes the creation of a monument in Washington, D.C., to recognize the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military award for valor in combat. The bill now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
This Congress, the National Medal of Honor Monument Act was introduced in the Senate – S.172 – by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) and in the House of Representatives – H.R.1664 – by Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Blake Moore (R-UT).
Following the bill’s passage through both chambers, the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation (NMOHMF) applauded the news and released the following statements:
“Our nation owes a great deal to the brave men and women of the armed forces. Those of us who wear the Medal of Honor do so for all we served alongside and for all who have served. This project will recognize the service and sacrifice of the estimated 40 million who have served in all wars and all branches since the Civil War.
Most importantly, it will represent the aspirational American values of the Medal of Honor and will stand as a beacon for those values in our nation’s capital,” said Medal of Honor recipient and NMOHMF Board member General Patrick Brady.
“A monument celebrating the values and valor of America’s Medal of Honor recipients in our nation’s capital will remind all of us of the power of service and sacrifice. I cannot think of a more unifying project, and I am so proud of our team and our champions in Congress for their unanimous support.
America needs something to agree on. Our country needs something which brings us together. Unity is never more important than this time of year. This historic project is doing just that – uniting and inspiring all Americans.” said NMOHMF Chairman Charlotte Jones.
“With only 67 Medal of Honor recipients alive today, time is of the essence to recognize our nation’s bravest heroes. By passing the National Medal of Honor Monument Act, we are one step closer to doing just that,” said Chris Cassidy, NMOHMF president and CEO.
“I want to thank Sens. Cornyn and Kaine and Reps. Veasey and Moore for their tremendous leadership. Together, we will pay tribute to the fewer than 4,000 brave Americans who have received the Medal.”
No federal funds will be used to build the monument. Instead, the NMOHMF will be responsible for raising funds to cover the expenses associated with the project. The creation of the Monument in Washington, D.C., will complement the future National Medal of Honor Museum, to break ground in Arlington, TX early next year.
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About the Museum and Monument: The National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Leadership Institute will inspire Americans by honoring and preserving the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat.
Serving as a national landmark – and located in America’s heartland in Arlington, Texas – the Museum will provide an unrivaled visitor experience and illustrate the historical thread of sacrifice, patriotism and courage that runs through all U.S. military service members, past and present.
Beyond its state-of-the-art, interactive experiences, a critical part of the Museum’s mission will be to use the stories of Medal of Honor recipients to inspire their fellow Americans and motivate them to be their best selves.
A National Monument in Washington, D.C., will commemorate the service and sacrifice of the bravest and most decorated members of the U.S. Armed Forces. To be located in the nation’s capital, it will give all Americans the opportunity to reflect on the courage and patriotism that safeguard freedom and democracy.
Jim W. Dean is VT Editor Emeritus. He was an active editor on VT from 2010-2022. He was involved in operations, development, and writing, plus an active schedule of TV and radio interviews. He now writes and posts periodically for VT.
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Mr. Jim Dean-
Sir, The New National Museum of The Army Has an
Entire Wing dedicated to The Medal of Honor Recipients.
You should check it out.
Thanks for this Sarge. I did not know. Once again the comment boards can fill in some holes in what we missed.
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