The design candidates for the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal have been released by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). The final design of the medal set to be released this year, will be selected from these candidates.
According to the law that called for this Congressional Gold Medal, “The United States Merchant Marine was integral in providing the link between domestic production and the fighting forces overseas, providing combat equipment, fuel, food, commodities, and raw materials to troops stationed abroad.” For those not familiar with the Merchant Mariners, they were private citizens and vessels, run by civilians. The law was passed in March 2020 with an aim to have the medal released in 2021. 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) was established in 2003 by Congress under Public Law 108-15 to advise the Secretary of the Treasury on the themes and designs of all U.S. coins and medals. The CCAC serves as an informed, experienced and impartial resource to the Secretary of the Treasury and represents the interests of American citizens and collectors.
Better late than never, tens of thousands of these brave men died in the war but they never got the recognition of those in uniform. Like the women nurses of World War I and the women who ferried bombers in World War II in took a long, long time to see them as veterans.
100% agree!