Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) introduced a bipartisan measure on Thursday that would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the “Monuments Men,” a group of men and women who worked to prevent artwork from being destroyed during World War II.
“This bipartisan bill honors the incredible men and women of Missouri and across the world who protected millions of cultural artifacts from devastation during World War II and preserved these invaluable treasures for future generations,” Blunt said. “I’m hopeful that this legislation will encourage more Americans to learn about the rich history of these works of art and the remarkable legacies of the Monuments Men.”
There were approximately 350 men and women from 13 countries who served as Monuments Men in the monuments, fine arts and archives section of the Western Allied military effort.
The group protected and preserved works from artists such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Pablo Picasso. The Monuments Men preserved and restored more than 5 million pieces of art, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”
President Franklin Roosevelt established the Roberts Commission in 1943 to help the U.S. Army protect and preserve cultural works in Europe in the wake of World War II.
Blunt’s legislation was cosponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) also introduced a similar measure in the House of Representatives.