Trump Signs Bill for National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington

President Donald Trump has signed a significant piece of legislation to establish a National Medal of Honor monument in Washington, D.C. This monument will honor the bravery of over 3,500 recipients of the prestigious military award. Named after Hershel “Woody” Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, the monument aims to preserve the legacy of courage and sacrifice. Trump emphasized the importance of this tribute during a ceremony at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, promising a prime location near the Lincoln Memorial. The initiative is part of a broader project that includes the museum and the Griffin Institute, which has already reached hundreds of thousands of students across the nation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 11, 2026, 11:47 IST

New Monument to Honor Medal of Honor Recipients

File image of US president Donald Trump (Photo:PTI)

Washington, Sep 11: President Donald Trump has enacted a new law that establishes a National Medal of Honor monument in Washington, D.C., to pay tribute to over 3,500 individuals who have received the highest military honor in the United States.

The legislation, known as the Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, was signed during a ceremony at the National Medal of Honor Museum located in Arlington, Texas.

This act is named in honor of Williams, the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, who earned the distinction for his bravery as a flamethrower operator during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Trump stated, “This monument will be funded entirely through private donations and will be situated in the heart of our nation’s capital, close to the Lincoln Memorial.”

He assured the museum foundation that they would receive a prime location in Washington, despite the preferred site being unavailable.

“We’re going to secure the best site in all of Washington,” Trump remarked.

He referred to the museum as “an American treasure dedicated to the most courageous warriors of our nation.”

According to Trump, the monument will help preserve the legacy of courage and sacrifice exhibited by Medal of Honor recipients in the collective memory of the nation.

“With this museum and the new monument in Washington, D.C., America will always remember their actions and the risks they took,” he emphasized.

Trump specifically honored Williams, noting how the Marine heroically navigated through enemy lines during the Battle of Iwo Jima, neutralizing multiple machine-gun nests.

“In the Battle of Iwo Jima, he literally carved a path to American victory, enabling soldiers to advance and succeed,” Trump stated.

The Medal of Honor is awarded to U.S. service members who demonstrate extraordinary bravery at great personal risk. Fewer than 4,000 individuals have received this prestigious award, as highlighted during the ceremony.

The National Medal of Honor Museum was inaugurated in Arlington last year and is part of a larger initiative that includes the Griffin Institute and the upcoming monument in Washington. The institute has already impacted over 300,000 students across more than 29,000 schools, according to Jones.