This bill, titled the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act, seeks to posthumously honor Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds with a Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition is for his extraordinary heroism and defiance during World War II, specifically while he was a prisoner of war. During his captivity in Stalag IX-A, a German POW camp, Edmonds, as the senior noncommissioned officer, was ordered by Nazi forces to identify and separate Jewish-American soldiers from the general prisoner population. Defying these orders, Edmonds commanded all 1,292 American prisoners to stand together, famously stating, " We are all Jews here ." His courageous refusal, even when threatened with execution, saved the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American servicemen, preventing their transfer to labor camps or worse. Edmonds was later posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem as "Righteous Among the Nations" for his actions. The legislation authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the medal's posthumous presentation to Edmonds' next of kin. The Secretary of the Treasury is directed to design and strike the gold medal, and is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates to the public. Funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund will cover the medal's costs, with proceeds from duplicate sales returning to the fund.
Conflicts and warsCongressional tributesMilitary historyMilitary personnel and dependents
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act
USA119th CongressS-262| Senate
| Updated: 1/27/2025
This bill, titled the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act, seeks to posthumously honor Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds with a Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition is for his extraordinary heroism and defiance during World War II, specifically while he was a prisoner of war. During his captivity in Stalag IX-A, a German POW camp, Edmonds, as the senior noncommissioned officer, was ordered by Nazi forces to identify and separate Jewish-American soldiers from the general prisoner population. Defying these orders, Edmonds commanded all 1,292 American prisoners to stand together, famously stating, " We are all Jews here ." His courageous refusal, even when threatened with execution, saved the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American servicemen, preventing their transfer to labor camps or worse. Edmonds was later posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem as "Righteous Among the Nations" for his actions. The legislation authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the medal's posthumous presentation to Edmonds' next of kin. The Secretary of the Treasury is directed to design and strike the gold medal, and is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates to the public. Funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund will cover the medal's costs, with proceeds from duplicate sales returning to the fund.