John Wardell, 99, as he and U.S. Army Ranger veterans from World War II were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal on Thursday.“To be a Ranger is to live by a code: Courage. Sacrifice. Resolve,” Wardell said.

Members of the public and dozens of lawmakers gathered Thursday at Emancipation Hall on Capitol Hill as Congressional Gold Medals were awarded to five Army Rangers who served in World War II.

John Wardell is one of just five remaining Army Rangers out of 6,500 in World War II, and he has been honored with a Congressional Gold Medal.