Editing Melvin Laird (section)

==Death and legacy==
Following the death of [[Clarence Clifton Young]] on April 3, 2016, Laird became the last surviving member of the [[83rd United States Congress|83rd Congress]], as well as the last surviving member elected in either the [[1952 United States House of Representatives elections|1952]] or [[1954 United States House of Representatives elections|1954 elections]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp |title=Congressional Biographical Directory (CLERKWEB) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423082228/http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp |archive-date=April 23, 2010 }}</ref> Laird died of [[congestive heart failure]] in [[Fort Myers]], [[Florida]] on November 16, 2016, at the age of 94.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/melvin-laird-nixon-defense-secretary-at-the-height-of-the-vietnam-war-dies-at-94/2016/11/16/7956cdca-ac44-11e6-8b45-f8e493f06fcd_story.html|title=Melvin Laird, Nixon defense secretary at the height of the Vietnam War, dies at 94|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/11/16/nixon-s-secretary-of-defense-dead-at-94.html|title=Nixon's Secretary of Defense Dead at 94|website=[[The Daily Beast]] |date=November 16, 2016}}</ref>

Secretary of Defense [[Ash Carter]] said in a statement: "Secretary Laird led the Defense Department through a time of great change in the world and within our department. Through it all, he demonstrated an unfailing commitment to protecting our country, strengthening our military, and making a better world."<ref name=cnn>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/politics/melvin-laird-obituary/|title = Draft-ending former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird dies &#124; CNN Politics| website=[[CNN]] |date = November 17, 2016}}</ref>

"Those of us who fought and those of us held prisoner in Vietnam will always have a special place in our hearts for Sec Melvin Laird," tweeted Senator [[John McCain]], after learning of Laird's death.<ref name=cnn/>

The Laird Center for Medical Research (dedicated in 1997), located in Marshfield, Wisconsin is named after him.<ref name="nydailynews.com"/> It is a medical research and education facility on the campus of [[Marshfield Clinic]].

On May 19, 2017, the Department of Defense ordered the following. ALCON, 1.  IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF A, AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR THE INTERMENT OF FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MELVIN LAIRD, THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES IS TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF ON FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017.  2.  THE FLAG SHALL BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF ON ALL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, MILITARY POSTS AND NAVAL STATIONS, AND NAVAL VESSELS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. RELEASED BY:  CDR H. MOHLER, DOD EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Laird was buried in [[Arlington National Cemetery]] (Section 34).<ref>{{cite web |title=MELVIN ROBERT LAIRD JR |url=https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/MELVINROBERTLAIRDJR/5E579 |website=Veterans Legacy Memorial |access-date=7 October 2024}}</ref>