Senate Joint Resolution 967 honors the memory of Master Sergeant Roderick "Roddie" W. Edmonds, a Medal of Honor recipient from Knoxville, Tennessee. Born on August 20, 1919, Edmonds served in the United States Army during World War II and was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. As the senior noncommissioned officer among American prisoners of war, he displayed remarkable courage by refusing to identify Jewish-American soldiers when ordered to do so by a Nazi commander, famously declaring, "We are all Jews here!" His actions saved the lives of over 200 Jewish-American servicemen, demonstrating extraordinary leadership and moral courage.

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on March 2, 2026, Edmonds is recognized not only for his military valor but also for being named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem for risking his life to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's pride in honoring Edmonds' legacy and commends his heroism and leadership, which upheld the highest traditions of military service.