recognize the efforts of Elizabeth "The Hug Lady" Laird, to not let soldiers go overseas without knowing they are loved.

Elizabeth "The Hug Lady" Laird gave the gift of love to as many soldiers leaving home and going overseas, and returning from those deployments as she could. Half a million troops received her gift and when she became too ill to go on, the soldiers began lining up at her hospital room to giver her that gift in return. Her efforts epitomize the reason for the Medal of Freedom, ""an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors"." Many soldiers got the last hug they ever received from Mrs. Laird. She defines why soldiers go off to serve, this is why we go to war. I strongly urge the President to consider rendering to her surviving family members the Medal of Freedom.