On the recordJuly 21, 2022
in its mission statement, the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga, TN, highlights the values of patriotism, citizenship, courage, integrity, sacrifice, and commitment as central to the character of every Medal of Honor recipient. When put into action, these values culminate in uncommon acts of heroism. Today, I have the privilege of recognizing two heroes whose valor on the battlefield earned them the Medal of Honor and the admiration of their countrymen: Charles H. Coolidge of Tennessee and Hershel W. ``Woody'' Williams of West Virginia. We lost Charles last year and Woody just a few weeks ago, but their legacies remain a celebration of the sacrifice, resilience, and service of the 16 million men and women who served in the Armed Forces during World War II and saved the world from the horrors of authoritarianism. The Senate came together and rallied around one final tribute to the era's Medal of Honor recipients, and on July 14, Woody Williams became just the seventh American to lay in honor in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. It was a lovely, fitting way to show our gratitude not only to Woody, but to all the World War II Medal of Honor recipients we lost before him. I can think of no better way to keep this spirit of camaraderie alive than to put their legacies to work on behalf of younger generations who are just beginning to understand that the preservation of freedom for all humanity will require much more than bold words.…





