Congress honors Medal of Honor recipients with National Mall monument
H.R. 186 — Hershel Woody Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act · Filed by Blake Moore (R-UT) · 8 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 3, 2025 · Passed chamber
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What it does
This bill authorizes the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to build a commemorative monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., honoring Medal of Honor recipients. The bill names the monument after Hershel Woody Williams, the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient who died in 2022, and specifies that it should be located near the Lincoln Memorial.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole function is to authorize placement of a public monument honoring Medal of Honor recipients on federal land. It is a straightforward commemorative authorization with no regulatory, financial, or policy mechanism beyond site designation.
What the text implies
- The bill overrides section 8908 of title 40 USC, which normally restricts commemorative works on the National Mall. This carve-out is specific to this monument and sets a precedent for future commemorative-work site exceptions.
- Naming the monument after Hershel Woody Williams, who passed in 2022, honors a deceased Medal of Honor recipient rather than a sitting official, making this a protective/memorial naming rather than vanity legislation.
Who stands to gain
National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation