H. Res. 390 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

June 15, 2009. 

Whereas the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library in Fulton, Missouri, was built in 1964 and opened to the public 

in 1969 to honor Sir Winston Churchill and to commemorate his famous speech, the ‘‘Sinews of Peace’’; 

Whereas it was during the delivery of the ‘‘Sinews of Peace’’ 

speech on the campus of Westminster College, in Fulton, 

in 1946, that Sir Winston Churchill uttered the famous 

phrase, ‘‘an iron curtain has descended’’, capturing the 

essence of the emerging Cold War; 

Whereas Westminster College built the original Winston 

Churchill Memorial, and is responsible for the finances, 

operations, and collections management of the Winston 

Churchill Memorial and Library; 

Whereas the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library closed 

for significant renovations in 2005, and was transformed 

into a state-of-the-art museum that reopened on March 

5, 2006, in recognition of the 60th anniversary of Sir 

Winston Churchill’s delivery of the ‘‘Sinews of Peace’’ 

speech; 

Whereas the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library now 

features many new exhibits and an expanded research library and archives, which more effectively incorporate the 
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•HRES 390 EH 

many thousands of historical resources that the Memorial 

and Library possesses; 

Whereas the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library now 

better honors Sir Winston Churchill’s contributions to the 

fields of art and literature and provides an enhanced historical and political analysis of his career because of the 

recent renovations and improvements; 

Whereas the leadership of Sir Winston Churchill during 

World War I, World War II, and the Cold War played 

a vital role in shaping the history of the United States 

and the world, and sacrifices made by Sir Winston 

Churchill and other leaders during those conflicts preserved liberty, democracy, and other founding principles 

of the United States for generations to come; 

Whereas the ‘‘Lessons of Leadership’’ educational outreach 

programs offered by the Winston Churchill Memorial and 

Library use the resources of the Memorial and Library 

to educate teachers and students about the life and leadership of Sir Winston Churchill throughout World War I, 

World War II, and the Cold War by means of on-site visits, classroom curriculum development, distance learning, 

and other educational initiatives; 

Whereas Sir Winston Churchill’s mother was a United States 

citizen and he was proud of his heritage from and connections to the United States; and 

Whereas President John F. Kennedy, in 1963, declared Sir 

Winston Churchill an Honorary Citizen of the United 

States, the first person to be so honored: Now, therefore, 

be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes— 
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•HRES 390 EH 

(1) the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library in 

Fulton, Missouri, as ‘‘America’s National Churchill Museum’’; 

(2) the importance of the continuing collection, 

preservation, and interpretation of the historical materials held by the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library toward enhancing the knowledge and understanding of Sir Winston Churchill’s historic legacy; and 

(3) the immense historical importance of World 

War I, World War II, and the Cold War, and commends 

the ‘‘Lessons of Leadership’’ offered by the Winston 

Churchill Museum and Library educational outreach 

programs about the life and leadership of Sir Winston 

Churchill during those conflicts. 

Attest: 

Clerk.