HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 86

(By Delegates Linville, Cannon, Barnhart, Hite, DeVault, Mallow, Sheedy, Coop-Gonzalez, Green, T. Clark, Hillenbrand, Anderson, Brooks, Burkhammer, Butler, Campbell, Chiarelli, W. Clark, Dean, Dillon, Dittman, Ellington, Fast, Foster, Holstein, Hornbuckle, Hornby, Horst, Howell, Jennings, Kelly, Lucas, Marple, Martin, Mazzocchi, Miller, Nestor, Petitto, Phillips, C. Pritt, E. Pritt, Riley, Ross, Statler, Stephens, Street, Summers, Toney, Tully , Vance, Warner, Westfall, Willis, and Zatezalo)

[Introduced February 22, 2024; referred to the Committee on Rules]

Honoring Hershel "Woody" Williams as one of two West Virginia statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection.

Whereas, On July 2, 1864, it became law that, "…the President is hereby authorized to invite each and all the States to provide and furnish statues, in marble or bronze, not exceeding two in number for each State, of deceased persons who have been citizens thereof, and illustrious for their historic renown or for distinguished civic or military services such as each State may deem to be worthy of this national commemoration;" and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia recognizes the importance of honoring individuals whose contributions reflect the values and achievements of our great state; and

Whereas, West Virginia is currently represented in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol, by the statue of John Kenna which has stood as a symbol of our state for many years; and

Whereas, In 2000, Congress allowed states, for the first time, the option to replace statues in the National Statutory Hall under guidelines produced by the Joint Committee on the Library in conjunction with the Architect of the Capitol; and

Whereas, Hershel "Woody" Williams, a native West Virginian, was a distinguished Marine Corps veteran and because of his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty," Hershel "Woody" Williams received the Medal of Honor on October 4, 1945, from President Harry S. Truman for his exemplary actions at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II, and whose extraordinary service exemplifies the values of courage, sacrifice, and dedication; and

Whereas, In addition to his extraordinary military service, Hershel "Woody" Williams established the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument program, a nationwide initiative that indelibly honors the families of fallen service members and preserves their legacies; and

Whereas, Hershel "Woody" Williams is the namesake of the Woody Williams Foundations, an initiative that offers scholarships to Gold Star children and sponsors outreach and educational programs to communities and citizens about Gold Star families and the sacrifices they have endured; and

Whereas, The life and achievements of Hershel "Woody" Williams, including his extraordinary courage in battle and founding of the Gold Star Families Program, serve as an inspiration to all West Virginians and Americans, reflecting the spirit of our state and the ideals that the National Statuary Hall Collection seeks to represent; and, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the West Virginia Legislature direct the replacement of the current statue of John Kenna in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol with a statue of Hershel "Woody" Williams; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the replacement statue shall be designed and created in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Architect of the Capitol publication titled "Procedure and Guidelines for Replacement of Statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That a commission be appointed by the Governor to select a sculptor that shall include the Governor, or his or her designee, the Secretary of Veteran's Assistance, or his or her designee, the President of the Senate, or his or her designee, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, or his or her designee, the Minority leader of the Senate, or his or her designee, the Minority leader of the House of Delegates, or his or her designee, and the State Curator, or his or her designee; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Governor provide funding for the design and creation of the replacement statue from his or her contingency fund; and be it

Further Resolved, That the current statue of John Kenna be displayed at the State Culture Center following removal from the National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is directed to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Architect of the Capitol, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the Presiding Officer of the United States Senates and the Governor shall submit an official request to the Architect of the Capitol a written request to provide a new statue along with a copy of this resolution.