Courtney, Congressional Leadership, Present Congressional Gold Medals to Merchant Marines of WWII at Capitol Hill Ceremony
Cassidy, Patrick
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May 18, 2022
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Patrick Cassidy
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Courtney, Congressional Leadership, Present Congressional Gold Medals to Merchant Marines of WWII at Capitol Hill Ceremony
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) joined Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and others at the United States Capitol to present the Congressional Gold Medal to a group of Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II. Click here to read more from the Washington Post.
More than 200,000 Americans served as U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II, and more than 8,000 were killed. When they returned home, however, they weren’t provided access to the same benefits or recognition as other veterans. In 2020, Rep. Courtney voted to pass a bill to change that: the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act. The bill was signed into law, and it awards a Congressional Gold Medal—one of the highest honors in the United States—to American Merchant Mariners who supplied our armed forces during World War II. Today, Courtney helped present the Congressional Gold Medal to World War II Merchant Marine Veterans David Yoho, and Charles Mills.
“It was a privilege to take part in a Congressional Gold Medal Award ceremony that finally recognizes the lasting importance of the service and sacrifices of our World War II Merchant Marine veterans,” said Rep. Courtney. “This ceremony was long overdue. Hundreds of thousands of Merchant Mariners played critical roles securing our victories in both the European and Pacific Theaters, they suffered the highest casualty rate of any service, but when they returned home they were shockingly denied the same benefits and recognition that other veterans received. In Congress, we came together in 2020 to right that wrong and pass the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, and today we followed through for our vets. I was proud to present the Congressional Gold Medal to Merchant Marine veterans, including 101-year-old Charles Mills, and their families.”
Rep. Courtney helped present the Congressional Gold Medal to WWII Merchant Marine Veterans including Charles Mills (center) of Pearland, TX.
Courtney helped pass the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act in 2020, and he spoke at today’s ceremony along with Speaker Pelosi, House Minority Leader McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, and others
Veterans like Charles Mills and David Yoho were among the more than 200,000 Americans who served as Merchant Mariners during World War II
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