House Passes Rep. Summer Lee’s Bill to Name Monroeville VA Clinic in Honor of D-Day Hero Henry Parham

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Contact: Vaibhav Vijay
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NEWS: House Passes Rep. Summer Lee’s Bill to Name Monroeville VA Clinic in Honor of D-Day Hero Henry Parham

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House of Representatives unanimously passed Rep. Summer Lee’s legislation to name the new Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic  in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, as the Henry Parham VA Clinic. The bipartisan effort, co-led by Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and introduced in the Senate by Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA), honors the extraordinary legacy of Private First Class Henry Parham, a Black World War II hero and was one of the last surviving combat veterans of D-Day prior to his passing in July 2021. The bill now awaits final passage in the Senate.

Private First Class Henry Parham served in the historic all-Black 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only Black combat unit to land on D-Day. On June 6, 1944, Mr. Parham waded through neck-high water onto Omaha Beach under heavy enemy fire to secure the Allied invasion. For two months, his unit protected critical supply lines and helped turn the tide of the war. Despite returning home to a segregated nation that denied him the very freedoms he fought to protect, Mr. Parham devoted his life to service, volunteering at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center and his local American Legion for decades alongside his wife, Ethel.

The newly opened Monroeville VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic provides vital primary and specialty care services to veterans in the Pittsburgh region. The Henry Parham VA Clinic will serve as a lasting reminder of the immense sacrifices made by Black veterans and all who served while facing injustice at home.

Rep. Summer Lee highlighted the significance of the bill, stating:
“Henry Parham left behind an extraordinary legacy of courage, resilience, and service. Drafted into the Army at just 21 years old, he waded through neck-high water onto Omaha Beach under the chaos of enemy fire, praying for survival. And for two months, he and his battalion stood watch, aiding the flow of supplies and reinforcements to sustain Allied forces and turn the tide of the war. Like so many Black veterans, Mr. Parham returned to a country that denied him the very freedoms he had fought to protect, but he endured, devoting his life to service. Naming this facility after Henry Parham is a tribute to his legacy and an acknowledgment of the immense sacrifices made by veterans like him—those who fought for freedom abroad while enduring injustice at home.”

Senator John Fetterman added:
“Honoring our veterans means cutting through the noise and getting things done for the people who put their lives on the line for us. Henry Parham not only served his country during his time in the Army, but also for decades after by volunteering. I am proud to lead this bill and recognize the service of a brave fellow Pennsylvanian by naming this clinic in his honor.”

Senator Bob Casey added:
“When he stormed the beaches of Normandy as part of the only all-Black combat unit to land on D-Day, Henry Parham believed he was simply doing what he was ‘supposed to do as an American.’ When Henry came home, he continued serving his fellow veterans and his Nation, giving his time and energy at the VA in Pittsburgh. To call Henry a hero only begins to describe his selflessness and commitment to serving others, and renaming the VA clinic in Monroeville in his honor is one small way to ensure his actions are never forgotten.”

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler praised Mr. Parham’s legacy:
“Henry Parham is an American hero—fighting the Nazis on the beaches of Normandy as a member of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. The longtime Pennsylvanian’s courage and strength in the face of adversity should live on as a shining example for future generations. I am proud to introduce legislation renaming the VA clinic in Monroeville after Henry Parham in honor of his service and commitment to America.”

Full text of the bill can be found here: H.R. 4955.

Rep. Lee gave a speech on the House floor honoring Henry Parham’s legacy, attached here. 

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BACKGROUND ON HENRY PARHAM:

• Service on D-Day: Henry Parham was drafted into the Army at 21 and joined the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only all-Black combat unit to land on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Mr. Parham waded through neck-high water under heavy enemy fire to secure Omaha Beach. His unit’s barrage balloons helped deter low-flying German aircraft from strafing Allied troops and supplies. For two months, Mr. Parham and his battalion safeguarded the critical supply lines that turned the tide of the war.
• Return Home & Injustice: Despite his heroism abroad, Mr. Parham returned to a segregated United States that denied Black veterans equal rights. He endured and devoted his life to serving his fellow veterans.
• Lifetime of Service: Mr. Parham and his wife, Ethel, volunteered for decades at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center and their local American Legion chapter. His dedication earned him recognition, including being named a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor in 2013.
• Passing & Legacy: Henry Parham passed away on July 4, 2021, at the age of 99. He remains a symbol of courage, resilience, and humility, representing the sacrifices of Black veterans whose contributions were too often overlooked.
• About the Clinic: The Monroeville VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic opened in September 2023 to provide essential care and services to veterans in the Pittsburgh region. Naming the facility in Mr. Parham’s honor ensures his story will continue to inspire future generations.