President Donald Trump signed into law a bill establishing a monument to honor Medal of Honor recipients on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Trump signed the legislation after touring the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, with 16 of the 65 living medal recipients in attendance. The visit comes amid Trump’s trip to Texas for the Republican midterm convention.
The monument, which recognizes all Medal of Honor recipients, will be named after Hershel "Woody" Williams, who was the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Williams died in 2022 at the age of 98.
Trump said the late Williams was recognized for operating a flamethrower to eliminate machine-gun nests and clear paths for other Marines at the battle of Iwo
Jima during World War II. About 300 flamethrower operators participated in the battle and suffered a casualty rate of more than 90%, Trump said.
"They say it’s one of the most dangerous jobs," Trump said. "They say it’s unbelievably important, unbelievably dangerous in the battle of Iwo Jima."
Williams, who was 21 during the battle of Iwo Jima, received the Medal of Honor in 1945 from President Harry S. Truman. Fewer than 4,000 people have received the award since it was established in 1861.
During the event, Trump repeatedly joked about wanting to award himself the Medal of Honor.
"I’m only kidding," he said. "Actually, I’m not kidding."
The monument will be entirely funded by private donations, according to Trump. Contributors have been asking where to send donations, he said.
"So you’re going to have a lot of money pouring in," Trump said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump signs bill establishing DC Medal of Honor monument
