Last Medal of Honor recipient from World War Two will lie in state at the Capitol: Hero, 98, singlehandedly cleared seven pill boxes with flamethrower in battle of Iwo Jima
At the funeral for Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams in West Virginia, Senator Joe Manchin said that Williams will be honored at the US Capitol
Williams will lie in honor at the Capitol rotunda, one of the highest distinctions that a private citizen can be afforded in death
Senator Manchin paid tribute to his late friend saying: 'I´ll miss him telling me how I´m supposed to vote. And when I didn´t, how I made a mistake'
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in a statement: 'When Woody lies in honor under the Capitol Dome, it will be with immense gratitude for his service'
Williams' daughter said during Sunday's service: 'I pray that each of us follows in his example and continue to make the world a better place'
By Associated Press and Paul Farrell For Dailymail.Com
Published: 17:34 EDT, 3 July 2022 | Updated: 02:29 EDT, 4 July 2022
The funeral for Hershel W. 'Woody' Williams, the last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, was held in Charleston, West Virginia, on Sunday.
Williams, who died on Wednesday at 98, was a legend in his native West Virginia for his heroics under fire over several crucial hours at the battle for Iwo Jima on the Japanese Island between February and March 1945.
As a young Marine corporal, Williams went ahead of his unit in February 1945 and eliminated a series of Japanese machine gun positions.
Facing small-arms fire, Williams fought for four hours, repeatedly returning to prepare demolition charges and obtain flamethrowers.
Later that year, the 22-year-old Williams received the Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman. The Medal of Honor is the nation´s highest award for military valor.
Following the memorial service, it was confirmed that Williams will lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed Sunday.
A date and other details will be announced later, Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement.
Prior to Sunday's funeral, Williams had been lying in state in the West Virginia Capitol, from there he was brought to West Virginia's Culture Center in Charleston for his memorial service. He will be brought from there to the US Capitol.
Following his lying in honor, Williams will be interred in a private family burial.
West Virginia Democrat Senator Joe Manchin said at the memorial held for Williams in Charleston that the Medal of Honor recipient will lie 'in state.'
The distinction, according to the Architect of the Capitol, which oversees the building, is that government officials and military officers lie in state while private citizens lie in honor.
While lying in state, public officials are watched over by five members of the five branches of the military. Those who lie in honor are watched over by members of the United States Capitol Police.
Examples of those who have previously been lain in honor include Rosa Parks in 2005 and Evangelist Rev. Billy Graham in 2018.
Hershel Williams, pictured, left in 2018 and right, in 1945, was widely-known as a hero of the Battle of Iwo Jima, and even used a flamethrower (right) against his enemies while fighting on the Japanese island between February and March 1945
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