WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., introduced a bill Wednesday to name the Veterans Affairs hospital in Huntington after a Fairmont veteran.
Manchin and Capito are petitioning to designate the Huntington Veterans Affairs Medical Center as the Hershel “Woody” Williams Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Williams, 93, is West Virginia’s only living Medal of Honor recipient and a World War II veteran. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Williams worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for 35 years.
According to a joint release from Manchin and Capito, Williams continues to travel across the country for veterans advocacy work.
“I want to say to Woody how much I appreciate his friendship, his steadfast loyalty to his fellow Veterans, his selflessness and his diligence in advocating for veterans and their families,” Manchin said.
“Woody embodies West Virginia’s patriotic spirit,” Capito said. “The renaming of Huntington VA Hospital is just one way we can honor and thank Woody for his dedication and selfless service.”
The legislation, Senate Bill 1165, was read twice before being referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.