Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Remarks at the Lying in Honor of Hershel Woodrow ‘Woody’ Williams, Chief Warrant Officer 4, United States Marine Corps, Retired

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Congressional Leadership, senior Biden Administration officials and other Members of Congress for the lying in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams of the United States Marine Corps at the U.S. Capitol. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. As Speaker of the House, it is my solemn honor, on behalf of the House of Representatives, to pay tribute to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel ‘Woody' Williams: an heroic American, a courageous defender of liberty and the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient of World War II.

The Congress offers our condolences to his daughters Tracy and Travie, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and his entire beloved family. Thank you for allowing our nation to join you in mourning this patriotic American here in this temple of American Democracy.

As the forces of tyranny threatened liberty around the world, Woody proudly enlisted in the Marines – eager to serve his country. At just five point six – 5' 6,'' he was never the tallest Marine. At 135 pounds, never the biggest. Yet he was a force of nature on the battlefield.

At Iwo Jima, Woody marched through a hailstorm of gunfire, single-handedly destroying seven enemy positions. In awarding Woody the Medal of Honor, President Truman called his unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism. Even after this stunning feat of bravery, his service was far from over. He devoted the rest of his life to helping veterans and Gold Star families – and all families – always driven by his motto: ‘The cause is greater than I am.'

Today, we are joined by military leaders and Medal of Honor recipients. Let us salute them. Thank you for your presence here today – and that is a testament to the reverence with which Woody is held by generations of U.S. Servicemembers and veterans. Let us thank them for their service and their presence today.

With Woody's passing, we have lost a deeply selfless American and a vital link to our nation's Greatest Generation. His story echoes the service of so many Americans who faced the horrors of war so that liberty might triumph over fascism. Many of them were just 17, 18, 19 years old. They summoned awe-inspiring courage, keeping the flame of Democracy burning through our darkest hour. As Admiral Nimitz said of those who fought at Iwo Jima, ‘Uncommon valor was a common virtue.'

Many of us in Congress have traveled around the globe to honor the heroism of our World War II veterans – at Normandy and elsewhere. When I had the privilege of joining a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, a veteran in his 90s shared his memories of that brutal fight. He spoke about the camaraderie among his brothers in arms – about the friends he lost. At the end of his speech, he made a simple request: ‘Pray for peace.'

Let us honor Woody and his compatriots by carrying on their legacy of leadership and service, by preserving the just peace for which they fought so freely. He feels so comfortable under that flag. What a combination. May he rest in peace. Thank you.