South Dakota – Congress is weighing plans to add a new monument in Washington DC that would recognize the Medal of Honor. Amid political gridlock, a recipient with South Dakota ties is speaking out.
A bipartisan measure that’s already cleared the House would allow locating the new monument along the National Mall, near the Lincoln Memorial. More than 3,500 services members have received the award, the highest decoration from the military for bravery in combat.
Just 61 of those recipients are still living, including Retired Major General Patrick Brady, born in South Dakota. He said he hopes the project is finalized as he and fellow recipients continue their mission of educating the public about this type of service.
Brady said talking to students is part of that outreach.
“It’s a reminder to the young people that valor may be interesting,” said Brady, “but it’s the values associated with it that’s very important.”
He suggested the monument would create more opportunities for this reflection.
There’s broad support for the bill in the Senate, but Sen. Alex Padilla, D-CA, called for a pause. He says he fully supports the Medal of Honor Monument, but wants a regular vote instead of a unanimous consent.
Padilla says that would allow for amendments to also get locations approved on the Mall for a Museum of the American Latino and a Smithsonian Women’s History Museum.
Cory Crowley, the executive vice president of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, said the National Mall is where America tells its story, so adding a feature that recognizes the Medal of Honor makes sense.
“It’s been a key part of that story for 160 years,” said Crowley. “It’s been awarded in every conflict since the Civil War. It represents every branch of the military. There have been recipients from every walk of life in terms of culture, race, ethnicity.”
Crowley said they respect the additional projects Sen. Padilla is fighting for. But Crowley said his foundation feels it’s been swept up in something it doesn’t have any control over.
“Real estate on the National Mall is highly coveted,” said Crowley. “Congress passed legislation way back in the ’80s that said no federal funds can go to put things on the Mall. If it’s really something that the American public wants, then there’ll be a grassroots movement to fund it. That’s the boat we’re in – we’ve raised the private money necessary.”
Backers of the project are asking and Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune, R-SD, to spur quick action in that chamber.
