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More than 11 years in the making, the recently completed National World War II Memorial in our nation's capital is truly a sight to behold. Situated majestically on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, this long-awaited memorial stands as a tribute to the 16 million Americans who served in uniform during World War II.
National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo Credit line: (AP Photo/Lauren Burke) |
The $172 million project - paid for almost entirely with private donations -- spans 7.4 acres. Located at the eastern edge of the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool, the monument forms an oval shape around the "Rainbow Pool." Two 43-foot arches adorn the north and south edges of the monument's main plaza and represent the war's Atlantic and Pacific theatres. Around the perimeter of the pool, fifty-six pillars -- each adorned with two sculpted bronze wreaths -- represent the contributions made during the war by the states, territories and the District of Columbia.
Through an electronic registry, the memorial lists the names of Americans who were part of the war effort, either as members of the armed services or as civilians on the home front. Members of the general public can add names to the registry by going to the WWII Memorial's web site at www.WWIImemorial.com and typing in the information or by calling the Memorial's toll-free number at 1-800 639-4WW2. In addition to the public enrollment in the "Registry of Remembrances," the memorial features three other electronic databases. Those directories list the names of Americans who are buried in the overseas military cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), the names of Americans memorialized on ABMC's "Tablets of the Missing," and the Americans recorded as killed in service on the official rosters kept by the National Archives and Records Administration.
The official dedication of the National World War II Memorial will take place on Saturday, May 29 in Washington, D.C. during Memorial Day weekend. Televised live on the History Channel and C-SPAN, the two-hour program will provide a fitting tribute and poignant reminder of the incredible sacrifices made by this great generation. Hundreds of WWII veterans will be arriving in Washington, D.C. to take part in the dedication and a series of events called "Reunion on the National Mall." To preserve their stories, the Library of Congress will deploy 300 volunteers throughout the weekend to interview and tape record their "oral histories." The interviews are part of the Library's national Veterans History Project which has as its goal to document the wartime experiences of our country's veterans and keep their spirits alive for future generations. Since we have so much to learn from the legacy of our WWII veterans, the Library of Congress is making a concerted effort to capture their stories now, because, according to the American Battle Monuments Commission, we are losing these veterans at a rapid rate of about 1,100 a day. The 34th Congressional District can also take considerable pride in the many WWII veterans who fought so valiantly to protect our country. Some of them have taken advantage of the information I've passed along and are participating in the project, but I know there are still many more stories to share. If you're interested in getting involved, please visit the Veterans History Project web site at www.loc.gov/folklife/vets.
This Memorial Day, in communities throughout the country, families will gather to pay tribute to their loved ones and all the brave men and women in our armed services who lost their lives answering our nation's call to duty. Sadly, this distinguished group now includes our current generation of fallen heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan who, along with those who served before them, are forever in our hearts and prayers. As we reflect upon all of them this Memorial Day -- including the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives during WWII -- we are reminded of the eternal gratitude we owe them for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation.
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