HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 201

(By Delegates Linville and J. Pack)

[Introduced June 24, 2021]

Requesting the President of the United States to designate a single state funeral to be held upon the death of the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.

Whereas, Only 473 Americans were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration of valor during World War II, and, as of today, only one of those Americans, West Virginia’s own son, Hershel “Woody” Williams, remains alive; and

Whereas, The time is approaching for a final salute to the Medal of Honor recipients from World War II; and

Whereas, A single state funeral to be held upon the death of the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II would be the perfect vehicle to do so, and it would also provide national recognition to honor all 16 million soldiers, sailors and airmen who served in our armed forces from 1941 to 1945; and

Whereas, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific theatre, and General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of the European theatre, were each honored by the nation with state funerals; and

Whereas, The selfless, brave men and women who served under them deserve the honor of special recognition at a state funeral to be held upon the death of the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the West Virginia Senate and West Virginia House of Delegates hereby request the President of the United States to designate a single state funeral to be held upon the death of the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Senate and West Virginia House of Delegates hereby request the President of the United States to designate a single state funeral to be held upon the death of the last living Medal of Honor recipient from each succeeding American war, that the memory of their deeds may be perpetuated; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates and Clerk of the Senate forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Clerk of the United States Senate, the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, all members of West Virginia’s Congressional delegation, and the Governor of West Virginia.