“Winston Spencer Churchill was the best friend the United States ever had.”
This was House Speaker John Boehner’s statement in the unveiling of the new Winston Churchill bust Wednesday at the US Capitol. The said figure of the WWII British Prime Minister now stands in the seat of US government to attest the strong relationship the country has with Britain.
The event was witnessed by Senate and House leaders along with Nicholas Soames, a Conservative Member of the British Parliament and Sir Churchill’s grandson.
Roger Daltrey, The Who’s frontman, was present for the occasion and sang a cover of Stand By Me and one The Who classic, Won’t Get Fooled Again.
US Secretary of State John Kerry centered his speech on Sir Winston Churchill’s originality as an individual in what looked like the Secretary’s attempt to lighten up the commemoration’s atmosphere. He recalled on how one time the Prime Minister was invited to the White House for a week’s stay yet he freely prolonged his visit for months and even freely used then President Roosevelt’s bathtub but never used any bathrobe after taking his bath.
On the other hand, Mr. Soames extended his family’s gratitude to America for the great honor the country has bestowed on his grandfather.
“My family and I thank you most warmly for the very great honour that you have accorded the memory of my grandfather in accepting the donation from the Churchill Centre of this magnificent bust of Sir Winston,” he stated.
He also added that the Prime Minister was as much as an American at heart as he was a Briton.