President Donald Trump signed legislation Thursday authorizing the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a monument on the National Mall honoring recipients of the nation’s highest military decoration.
Trump signed the Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act during a visit to the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, after touring the museum and meeting with Medal of Honor recipients from conflicts spanning the Korean War, Vietnam and the Global War on Terror.
The White House confirmed that Trump signed S. 858 into law on Sept. 10, saying the measure authorizes the foundation to establish a commemorative work on the National Mall recognizing the “extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of Honor recipients.”
“Very shortly… I’ll sign into law the Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act,” Trump said before the signing.
“It’s a long name… but it’s an important name,” he added, saying the law would allow the foundation to build “a brand new monument in Washington, D.C.”
The legislation is named after Hershel “Woody” Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, who died in 2022.
Williams, a Marine, received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he used a flamethrower to attack fortified Japanese positions while under intense enemy fire. Congressional findings included in the legislation note that Williams was the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient and was later honored at the United States Capitol following his death.
Trump described Williams as “one of the most beloved Medal of Honor recipients.”
“In the battle of Iwo Jima, he carved a path to American victory—literally carved a path so soldiers could get in and win through a deadly gauntlet of enemy strongholds,” Trump said. “He just kept going back and forth.”
Monument To Be Located On National Mall
Congress had already authorized the creation of a National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington in 2021, but the new law resolves the crucial question of where it can be located.
Under the legislation, the monument may be placed within the protected area of the National Mall commonly known as the Reserve, where new memorial construction is normally heavily restricted. Lawmakers argued that the Medal of Honor carries sufficient national and historical significance to justify placement there.
The congressional record specifically noted that locating the memorial near the Lincoln Memorial would connect it to the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln and the establishment of the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.
Trump said private donations would finance construction of the monument rather than federal taxpayer dollars.
The monument will honor all Medal of Honor recipients rather than a single conflict or branch of the military.
The award is described as the nation’s highest recognition for valor in combat and the monument is intended to preserve the stories of honorees as the number of living recipients continues to decline.
Trump Meets With Medal Of Honor Recipients
Among those present were Army Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, Navy Capt. Royce Williams, Army Col. Paris Davis, Army Specialist Four Mike Fitzmaurice, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Richardson, Army Lt. Col. Al Rascon and Army Specialist Five Dwight Birdwell.
Later in the tour, Trump met with recipients who served during the Global War on Terror, including Army Lt. Col. Will Swenson, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matt Williams, Navy Command Master Chief Britt Slabinski, Army Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee, Army Staff Sgt. David Bellavia, Army Sgt. Maj. Pat Payne, Army Capt. Flo Groberg and Navy Master Chief Ed Byers.
The museum also presented Trump with its “Champion of Honor” award during the visit.
The legislation marks the final major congressional step needed to permit the memorial’s placement on the National Mall, following years of bipartisan efforts to establish a permanent national monument.
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