WWII Vet Who Does Super Bowl Coin Toss Visits Crystal
Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams says tossing the coin at the start of the Super Bowl was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“My heart was running about 69 miles an hour. It was a thrill absolutely,” said Williams.
Williams went from a racing heart to a subject that’s close to his heart.
“We need to pay back to contribute something to our country,” he said.
Williams spoke in Crystal, urging the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Quad Cities group to establish a Gold Star Family monument for families who have lost loved ones in battle. Thirty-one monuments have been dedicated around the country under a foundation Williams started in 2010.
“Sacrifices are difficult to talk about,” Williams told the group. “But they happen and then we as a society just let it go. It sort of passes on and we don’t do much about it.”
For this Yellow Ribbon Group, it’s a first step. If the idea moves forward, they would have to find a location and raise the funds.
“We’re going to put together a core committee to start the process to bring the memorial to our quad communities,” said board member Julie Deshler.
Williams received the Medal of Honor in 1945. He says helping families honor loved ones killed in battle seems to be his calling.
“I say why me? Why did I get to stay? And maybe this is the purpose.”
