WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today joined the House of Representatives in passing bipartisan legislation that honors the late Phyllis Galanti’s service to America’s military men and women and their families by naming the outdoor arboretum at Richmond’s McGuire VA Medical Center The Phyllis Galanti Memorial Arboretum. The legislation, sponsored by Sens. Mark R. Warner, Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and John McCain (R-AZ) in the Senate, along with Reps. Dave Brat (R-VA-7), Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) and Sam Johnson (R-TX-3) in the House, now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Mrs. Galanti, of Richmond, who passed away in April 2014 at the age of 73, became a national advocate for the estimated 600 American POWs when her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Paul Galanti, was shot down over North Vietnam on June 17, 1966. During her husband’s 2,432 day incarceration in a Vietnamese POW camp, Phyllis Galanti advocated for humane treatment and release of American POWs, serving as national chairman of the National League of Families and Friends of POWs and MIAs in Southeastern Asia.

The legislation honors Phyllis Galanti by naming an existing outdoor arboretum at the McGuire VA Medical Center in her honor. The arboretum will feature gardens, walkways and benches in her honor, including the addition of appropriate signage. 

“Phyllis Galanti’s story is a tremendous testament to what is possible through unselfish service to others. We were pleased to work together to permanently honor Phyllis Galanti in a way that will allow us to continue to share her story of perseverance and patriotism for years to come,” the Virginia members said.

“Designating such a beautiful space in her name - one that will be enjoyed by generations of servicemembers and their families to come - is a fitting tribute to her decades of service to Virginia and our country. Her role in fighting on behalf of all of our POWs and MIAs reminds us that our military families also sacrifice for our country.”

The text of the legislation is available here?.

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