mand/Transport Command in Britain. The existence 
of these ancillaries enabled patriotic citizens, who 
were, at least initially, unable to join a branch of the 
United States military due to gender, age, race, 
health, the lack of sufficient college education, or 
other reasons, to support the war effort. Those who 
contributed via these alternative concerns were no 
less essential to attaining victory. 
(6) The infusion of Americans into Canada 
helped to reduce shortages of civilian and military 
pilots in the BCATP, and President Franklin Roo-
sevelt paid tribute to both Canada and the program 
in a wartime letter to Canadian Prime Minister Wil-
liam Lyon Mackenzie King. Within the correspond-
ence President Roosevelt used the phrase ‘‘the Aero-
drome of Democracy’’. 
(7) As members of the Canadian and British 
militaries, the American volunteers served in many 
capacities. Extant military rolls and individual serv-
ice records document, and thereby testify to, their 
contributions. 
(8) A sizable number of Americans lost their 
lives or were wounded while serving in the RCAF 
and RAF. The Canadian Army, British Army, Royal 
Canadian Navy, and Royal Navy also incurred 
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American personnel casualties. Those who perished 
and the survivors demonstrated the exceptional cour-
age that has been repeatedly displayed in the de-
fense of freedom throughout American history. 
(9) A unique and highly publicized group of 
Americans, who were members of the RCAF and 
RAF, were posted to the famous RAF Eagle Squad-
rons and thereby showcased the important roles 
American volunteers were undertaking. British 
Prime Minister Winston Churchill, whose mother 
was American, played an important role in originally 
promoting the concept of the Eagle Squadrons to 
the Air Ministry. 
(10) The early successes of female ferry air-
crews paved the way for the formation in the United 
States of the Women Airforce Service Pilots 
(WASP) in 1943. The exceptional legacy of the 
Women Airforce Service Pilots, ATA, etc., provided 
essential support and paved the way for future gen-
erations of military women. 
(11) A substantial portion of the Americans 
serving in Canadian and British aerial forces trans-
ferred to the United States Army Air Forces be-
tween 1942 and 1944, while others elected to enter 
other branches of the United States Military. 
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(12) The practical experience these veterans of 
Canadian and British service possessed provided the 
inexperienced American Forces with an immediate 
degree of competence and effectiveness. More than a 
few became accomplished combat pilots, the Amer-
ican Fighter Aces Association possessing many of 
them within the organization’s core membership. 
(13) The bravery and foresight displayed by the 
Americans who enlisted in the Canadian and British 
armed forces represent a largely unrecognized story 
of valor, and their initiatives are worthy of official 
recognition. 
(14) The United States Nationals who volun-
teered for service with military-associated Canadian 
and British ancillary entities are to be equally recog-
nized for their volunteerism, contributions, and sac-
rifices. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) AWARD AUTHORIZED.—The President pro tem-
pore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives shall make appropriate arrangements for the 
award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal of 
appropriate design to all United States nationals who vol-
untarily joined the Canadian and British armed forces and 
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their supporting entities during World War II, in recogni-
tion of their dedicated service. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the 
award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
Treasury (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and 
inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal 
shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where 
it will be available for display as appropriate and 
made available for research. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should 
make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) 
available for display elsewhere. 
(d) DUPLICATE MEDALS.—Under regulations that 
the Secretary may promulgate, the Secretary may strike 
and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck 
under this Act, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of 
the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machin-
ery, and overhead expenses. 
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SEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—Medals struck under this 
Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 
31, United States Code. 
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 
5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck 
under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. 
Æ 
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