Mission Accomplished:
"On July 14, 2022 a national funeral service for the last Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, Hershel "Woody" Williams was held in Capitol in Washington DC. It was the first time in the 246 years history of America that an enlisted man was allowed to be "Lain in Honor" in the Rotunda. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke. Later that day over 1,000 people gathered at the National World War II Memorial for a second service. It was truly a final salute to the greatest generation. Our 50 state organization worked for 5 years to make this day possible. "
WWII Medal of Honor recipient's state funeral happened with the help of a young girl from Dallas
Sign the petition - #4Woody!
The George Marshall Award 2020 |
WHAT LEADERS SAY ABOUT US |
"The final Medal of Honor Recipient from WWII deserves a State Funeral in Washington DC and I am working hard to make this happen. Regardless if it is Mr. Coolidge or Mr. Williams,that greatest generation deserves a final salute through this first ever State Funeral for an enlisted man. Rabel McNutt a 10 year old school girl from Texas originated this idea and all patriotic Americans should join her in this quest. " -- United States Senator Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee "Now we have a renewed focus to honor the last World War II Medal of Honor recipient with a State Funeral. There are only two left and they are all in their 90s. I hope they live a lot longer. Ultimately we are working so that the last one will receive a state funeral to honor all those who served in World War II. " - Rep. Steve Scalise, (R-La.) "Our center is dedicated to one of the three remaining MOH recipients from WW II, Charles Coolidge. We strongly endorse the mission and efforts of Mr. McNutt and the State Funeral for World War II Veterans to call for a State Funeral in Washington for the final World War II Medal of Honor holder.” - Keith Hardison, CEO, National Medal of Honor Heritage Center “During that time in America’s history, it is amazing how The Greatest Generation stepped up to the plate to fight for the freedom our country believes in. The citizens of this nation were behind the cause, as the 16 million men and women carried out our military mission in WWII. It is up to our generation to show gratitude to that great generation for the example they set for all generations to follow. Every time the most powerful, intelligent and compassionate U.S. military force stands up for peace in this world, it is the actions of the WWII Veterans who set the bar for the defense of democracy.” - James McCloughan, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient |
LIKE UNCLE SAM, WE NEED YOU!
*SHARE YOUR WWII VETERAN'S STORY. We love hearing and sharing all veteran's stories on our website and social media. Please click HERE to share. |
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Consider for a moment the men and women, many of them only teenagers, who years ago wrote letters from flyspeck Pacific islands to homes thousands of miles away. If they could find the time and energy to write, so can you. Please join us and sign the petition to the President to make this honorable mission a reality. |
CONGRESSIONAL & STATE LETTERS OF SUPPORT |
Massachusetts Congressional Delegation Letter
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Kansas Congressional Letter
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Minnesota Congressional Delegation Letterto President TrumpIn a letter to President Trump dating from May 22, 2019, Minnesota Congressional Delegates add their support in calling for a non-presidential State Funeral for the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient. The letter is signed by United States Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and by Members of Congress Collin C. Peterson, Betty McCollum, Tom Emmer, Ilhan Omar, Pete Stauber, Angie Craig, Dean Phillips and Jim Hagedorn.
Full text of Minnesota Congressional Delegation Letter to Pres. Trump: Minnesota-Congressional-Delegation-Letter.pdf Louisiana Congressional Delegation Letterto President TrumpIn a letter to President Trump dating from June 27, 2019, Louisiana Congressional Delegates add their support, asking the President to designate a single state funeral for the last Medal of Honor Recipient from WWII and the 16 million men and women who served.The letter is signed by United States Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, and by Representatives Steve Scalise, Clay Higgins, Mike Johnson, Ralph Abraham, Garret Graves, and Cedric Richmond. Full text of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation Letter to President Trump: Lousiana Congressional Delegation Letter.pdf One-Hundredth National ConventionOf The American Legion Resolution No. 41In Resolution No. 41 the National Convention of the American Legion support the cause of a State Funeral for the last World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Full text of Resolution No. 41: American-Legion-Resolution-No-41.pdf |
Missouri Congressional Delegation Letterto President TrumpIn a letter to President Trump dating from February 20, 2019, Missouri Congressional Delegates support the cause of a State Funeral for the last World War II Medal of Honor recipient. The letter is signed by United States Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, and by Members of Congress Vicky Hartzler, Billy Long, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Sam Graves, Wm. Lacy Clay, Jason Smith, Ann Wagner and Emanuel Cleaver.
Full text of the Missouri Congressional Delegation Letter to President Trump: Missouri-Congressional-Delegation-Letter.pdf | Arkansas Congressional Delegation Letter
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Texas Senate Resolution No. 69To President Trump The 86th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully urges the President of the United States to designate a state funeral for the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.
Full text of the Texas Senate Resolution No. 69 to President Trump: Texas-Senate-Concurrent-Resolution-No-69.pdf | Louisiana House Concurrent Resolution No. 112To President Trump In the Concurrent Resolution No. 112 the State of Louisiana urges and requests the President of the United States to designate a state funeral for the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II when such recipient passes away. The resolution is signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Taylor Francis Barras and the President of the Senate, John Alario.
Full text of the Louisiana House Concurrent Resolution No. 112 to President Trump: LouisiannaStateResolution2019.pdf |
Missouri State Resolution LetterHouse Concurrent Resolution No. 69In State Resolution No. 69 to President Trump, Missouri State Representatives support the cause of a State Funeral for the last World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Full text of the Missouri State Resolution No. 69 to President Trump: Missouri-State-resolution-No-69.pdf | Tennessee State Resolution LetterSenate Joint Resolution No. 96In Senate Joint Resolution No. 96 to President Trump, Tennessee State Representatives support the cause of a State Funeral for the last World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Full text of the Senate Joint Resolution No. 96 to President Trump: Tennessee-Senate-Joint-Resolution-No-96.pdf |
HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION
| At its core, State Funeral for World War II Veterans is about your family’s story. Perhaps that is the story of an unmarried teenager on a cramped boat with thousands of other Marines, shipping off to Iwo Jima. Perhaps it is the story of a woman in her twenties, a member of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP), or of a military nurse treating a wounded soldier from the Battle of the Bulge or Omaha Beach. Texas elementary school student Rabel McNutt was blessed to have Mr. Walter D. Ehlers as a godfather who was the oldest holder of the Congressional Medal of Honor at the time of his death. The New York Times wrote the following on February 21, 2014, one day after he died: “Walter D. Ehlers, who received the Medal of Honor for his exploits as an Army sergeant in the D-Day invasion of France and came to personify the heroism of the G.I.s who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, died on Thursday in Long Beach, Calif. He was 92.” Rabel McNutt had never been to a military funeral, so her father, Bill McNutt, showed her YouTube videos of the state funerals of President Ronald Reagan and General Douglas MacArthur. As they watched, Rabel turned to her father and asked, “Are they going to do a big funeral in Washington D.C. for Uncle Ehlers and his friends?” Somewhat awestruck at his daughter’s idea, McNutt replied, “They should! Let’s see what we can do.” From the mouth of a child the idea was born to convince the President of the United States to designate a single state funeral for the last Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. |
Sgt. Walter D. EhlersLAST LIVING WWII MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT
Hershel Woodrow Williams Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps West Virginia Received the George Marshall Award from State Funeral for World War II Veterans in 2020 Here the story of his bravery starts "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as demolition sergeant serving with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945. Quick to volunteer his services when our tanks were maneuvering vainly to open a lane for the infantry through the network of reinforced concrete pillboxes, buried mines, and black volcanic sands, Cpl. Williams daringly went forward alone to attempt the reduction of devastating machinegun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by 4 riflemen, he fought desperately for 4 hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flamethrowers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out 1 position after another. On 1 occasion, he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert the nozzle of his flamethrower through the air vent, killing the occupants and silencing the gun; on another he grimly charged enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and destroyed them with a burst of flame from his weapon. His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment and aided vitally in enabling his company to reach its objective. Cpl. Williams' aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service." -- Congressional Medal of Honor Society |
 | "State Funeral for World War II Veterans" is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Tax ID: 82-1730871. |