ARLINGTON, TX – (March 8, 2021) – Legislation was introduced today in the U.S House of Representatives paving the way for the creation of a monument in our nation’s capital recognizing the Medal of Honor and its fewer than 4,000 recipients.
The bipartisan National Medal of Honor Monument Act is cosponsored by U.S Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Blake Moore (R-UT). This bill authorizes the creation of a monument that will pay homage to the values the Medal of Honor represents – courage, patriotism citizenship, integrity, commitment, and sacrifice – and the brave individuals who earned it in service to the country. The introduction of this bill comes on the heels of the introduction of the bipartisan National Medal of Honor Monument Act in the Senate just three weeks ago.
“A grateful nation is eager to see our country’s greatest heroes – Medal of Honor recipients – recognized on the National Mall alongside other key figures in our nation’s history. We are thankful to Reps. Veasey and Moore for introducing this unifying and much anticipated legislation,” said NMOHMF CEO James T. Connors.
The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation testified before the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission last year in support of the introduction of the aforementioned legislation, meeting with Senators and Members of Congress to garner support for the project. Rep. Veasey – the Congressman representing Texas’s 33rd Congressional District, which includes Arlington, TX, where the National Medal of Honor Museum will be located – offered his support during the hearing, saying to recipients present that, “It’s my hope that we can make this monument a reality so millions of Americans from across the country and people from around the world can see and honor your courage.”
“Honoring these genuine American heroes – and all veterans – with a monument to the Medal of Honor is a cause everyone can rally around,” said Rep. Veasey. “It’s past due that we recognize the service and sacrifice of the bravest individuals to serve our country in our capital, for Americans to learn from.”
“I’m proud to cosponsor legislation that will begin the process of elevating the Medal of Honor to its proper place in our nation’s capital,” said Rep. Moore. “The giants of our republic are immortalized in Washington, D.C., and the unparalleled courage demonstrated by Medal of Honor recipients deserves permanent recognition so future generations continue to understand the sacrifices that have given us our freedoms.”
The creation of the Monument in Washington, D.C., will complement the future National Medal of Honor Museum, which is expected the break ground later this year. In October, Museum Foundation officials released the first renderings of the Museum, designed by renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, with the Museum’s anticipated opening in 2024.
The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is committed to raising funds to cover the expenses associated with the project, and no federal funds will be used to construct the monument.
FULL LIST OF ORIGINAL COSPONSORS
Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX)
Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT)
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX)
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. John Curtis (R-UT)
