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March 31, 2021 The Honorable Janet Yellen Secretary of the Treasury Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington DC 20220 Dear Madam Secretary: The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) held a public meeting via video conference on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, during which the Committee made recommendations for the candidate designs for the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal (P.L. 116-125). The Committee was joined by Mr. William G. McDonald, MARAD – Emory S. Land Chair for Merchant Marine Affairs Joint Military Operations Department, U.S. Naval War College, serving as the liaison. During World War II, the U.S. Merchant Marine conducted the greatest sealift effort in human history. A vast fleet of American ships, built in the United States and crewed by American civilian mariners, deployed our fighting forces across the globe, often suffering casualty rates exceeding those of the U.S. Armed Forces. The World War II mariners were granted veteran status in 1988. A lively discussion about fifteen obverses and thirteen reverses gave the Committee two clearly recommended designs: MM-O-06, depicts Merchant Mariners, representing an engineer, a helmsman, an officer, and a deckhand, with the bow of a Liberty ship in the background. On the right side is the inscription “MERCHANT MARINERS OF WORLD WAR II.” This design received a score of 24 of a possible 33 points. MM-O-06 was also the recommendation of the Commission of Fine Arts as well as the liaison. The Committee unanimously passed a motion to recommend adding the inscription “Act of Congress” to the design, leaving the placement of the inscription to the discretion of the United States Mint. MM-R-08, portrays a convoy of Liberty ships in columns stretching beyond the horizon as it steams ahead to complete its mission. A “V” for “victory” is superimposed behind the inscriptions “FULL AHEAD TO VICTORY” and “1941 – 1945.” Again, this design was not only the preference of the liaison and the Commission of Fine Arts, but also the CCAC members, receiving a score of 30 of a possible 33 points. Established by An Act of Congress, Public Law 108-15 https://www.ccac.gov It was an honor for our Committee to be a part of this worthy Congressional Gold Medal design recommendation. Sincerely, Mary N. Lannin Chair