[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 121 (Thursday, July 21, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REMEMBERING CHARLES H. COOLIDGE AND HERSHEL W. ``WOODY'' WILLIAMS

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, 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.
  Liberty is not an act of sheer will, but a reflection within a people 
of the same values that prompted Charles and Woody to put themselves 
between their brothers in arms and enemy troops. On behalf of all 
Tennesseans, I thank these brave men for their commitment to the common 
cause of freedom and pray that all our Nation's leaders will endeavor 
to follow in their footsteps.

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