Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

Statement in Honor of Ambassador F. Hayden Williams

July 26, 2002

Ambassador Williams has devoted a lifetime to public service. Through his time in the Navy Reserve during World War II, his work in the Kennedy and Eisenhower administrations, and his tenure as an Ambassador to Micronesia, Ambassador Williams has made important contributions to our government over more than fifty years. He has served with distinction on numerous boards and committees and in advisory capacities on defense and international affairs.

Ambassador Williams' connection to San Francisco and the Bay Area began as an undergraduate at the University of California at Berkeley, where he studied Political Science and History. He has since given much to the Bay Area, as an exemplary citizen, as a Trustee of U.C., Berkeley, and as a Commissioner of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.

Ambassador Williams' effort to build a World War II memorial is his most recent contribution to public life. He served as a Commissioner of the American Battle Monuments Commission from 1994 until 2001 and was named Chairman of the National World War II Memorial Committee. He directed the selection of the Memorial's site on the Mall and coordinated all aspects of the Memorial's design. He worked closely with Representative Marcy Kaptur and others in the United States Congress to garner legislative support for the Memorial.

Ambassador Williams helped shape the purpose of the Memorial. He wanted it to honor and express the Nation's enduring gratitude to all American men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces during WWII, those who gave their lives in battle, those missing in action, and those who survived. He made sure that the Memorial would convey a sense of remembrance and national pride in the fortitude, valor, and sacrifice of our armed forces. He envisioned a Memorial that would acknowledge and honor the nation at large, the vigorous, spirited commitment of the American people to the war effort, and the vital contribution of the home front to America's victory in WWII.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ambassador F. Hayden Williams. I join with his family and friends in recognizing his service and dedication to ensuring that the country honors those who fought so valiantly in World War II.