Arlington, Texas – After a multi-year effort, President Donald J. Trump signed S.858, the Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, into law during a ceremony at the National Medal of Honor Museum. The legislation locates the new National Medal of Honor Monument near the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Named in honor of the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor Recipient, the bill unanimously passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Prior to the bill signing ceremony, President Trump toured the Museum – named the Best New Museum in America by USA Today and one of the World’s Most Beautiful Museums by the Prix Versailles – and visited with more than a dozen Medal of Honor Recipients. Speaker Mike Johnson, bill sponsors Senator Jim Justice and Representative Blake Moore, Members of Congress, national and local leaders, and high-profile supporters of the Monument were also in attendance for the ceremony.

"The Spirit of Selfless Service"

“I have often been asked how it is possible this project didn't already exist, and the answer is because America needs these unifying and uplifting examples today more than ever,” said Charlotte Jones, Chairman of the NMOHMF Board of Directors and Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner of the Dallas Cowboys. “One must need not look any further for evidence of that unifying power than this legislation – which has required eight votes in Congress over six years, 100 percent of which were unanimous. That is the aspirational power of the Medal of Honor and the values it represents. That is why the National Medal of Honor Monument matters so much. It was a privilege to host President Trump, a true and trusted friend of the Medal of Honor, for today’s signing ceremony.”

Maj. General Patrick Brady (Ret.), Medal of Honor Recipient and member of the NMOHMF Board of Directors, added “President Trump and Members of Congress from both parties have united around a project that represents the spirit of selfless service our country so desperately needs. I’m very proud that the National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act has never had a single vote in Congress cast against it. The Monument ensures the service and sacrifice of Medal of Honor Recipients, and all those we served alongside, will forever have a place of honor in America’s front yard, inspiring generations to come with the timeless values of courage, commitment, integrity and patriotism. This Monument is about values over valor – the American ideals we all strive to live up to. I’m eternally grateful to everyone who made this day possible.”

 A History of Unanimous Support

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 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 earned the Medal of Honor. Of those, only 65 are living today. 

The National Medal of Honor Monument will be a permanent testament to their service and sacrifice – a place for every American to reflect on and be inspired by the values that unite us as a country. 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.

Now that the Monument is authorized for the Reserve of the National Mall – the protected stretch of land bounded by the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and the Jefferson Memorial – the NMOHMF will launch a design competition that considers the surrounding view sheds and other details that come with a specific site, once that is awarded by the National Park Service.

The creation of the National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington, D.C. will complement the National Medal of Honor Museum, which opened last year in Arlington, Texas. Since then, the Museum has received more than 100,000 visitors, reached 300,000 students across 12,000 schools through the Griffin Institute, and been presented with more than two dozen awards.

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About the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation

The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation inspires individuals to recognize the extraordinary potential that resides in us all. Through the National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute, the NMOHMF preserves and shares the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat and the values exemplified by its recipients. The Museum – which was voted as the Best New Museum in America and one of the world’s most beautiful museums – provides an unrivaled, interactive visitor experience in America’s heartland in Arlington, Texas. The Griffin Institute brings to life the core values inherent to the Medal of Honor in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities around the country. The Monument will soon rise in Washington, DC, providing a space to reflect on those whose selfless and courageous actions have served to safeguard freedom and democracy. For more information please visit our website or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.