President Donald Trump signed legislation Thursday authorizing the future National Medal of Honor Monument to be situated within the Reserve of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., near the Lincoln Memorial. The signing ceremony took place at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, where the president honored the nation’s most decorated military heroes.
The Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act represents a significant step in establishing a permanent tribute to America’s bravest service members. It is important to note that this legislation does not create the monument itself, which Congress previously authorized in 2021. Rather, it designates the monument’s location within the Reserve, a protected area of the National Mall that houses some of Washington’s most prominent monuments and memorials.
Before the signing ceremony, President Trump toured the museum and met with more than a dozen Medal of Honor recipients. He greeted each recipient personally, shaking hands and exchanging words with these exceptional Americans whose valor in combat earned them the nation’s highest military decoration.
“We’re privileged to have with us 15 of the 65 living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump told the assembled audience. The president reflected on the extraordinary courage these individuals demonstrated, noting that many recipients made the ultimate sacrifice. “When I see the recipients of the Congressional Medal, those that are living, many are dead. They died. And they died in battle. Some of the battles are—I read inscriptions of what took place. That level of bravery is incredible.”
The legislation bears the name of Hershel “Woody” Williams, a Marine who received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Williams remained the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient until his death in 2022.
President Trump recounted Williams’ remarkable actions during that pivotal Pacific campaign. “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. “And back and forth, he went. He just kept going back and forth. And one machine gun nest after another. He knocked them out, and he did it for hours and hours. People said they’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Members of Williams’ family attended the ceremony to witness the president sign legislation honoring their relative’s legacy.
According to Charlotte Jones, chairman of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, sixteen of the nation’s 65 living Medal of Honor recipients were present at the museum Thursday. Their presence underscored the significance of this moment for the military community and the nation at large.
The future monument will stand as a permanent reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by American service members throughout the nation’s history. Its placement near the Lincoln Memorial ensures that generations of Americans and visitors from around the world will have the opportunity to honor these heroes who answered their country’s call with uncommon valor.
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