The dedication of the memorial was the culmination of an 11-year effort that started when the memorial was authorized by Congress on May 25, 1993. Construction began September 4, 2001, after several years of fund raising and public hearings. The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004. The dedication celebration spanned four days and included a WWII-themed reunion exhibition on the National Mall staged in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folk life and Cultural Heritage, a service of celebration and thanksgiving at the Washington National Cathedral, and an entertainment salute to WWII veterans from military performing units.
The memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. It will inspire future generations of Americans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in securing freedom and democracy. Above all, the memorial stands as an important symbol of American national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that can flow when a free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause. The Second World War is the only 20th Century event commemorated on the National Mall’s central axis.
Freedom Wall - Field of 4,000 Gold Stars honors more than 400,000 lives lost during the war.
Construction began in September 2001. The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004, and was dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004. The memorial became part of the National Park System on Nov. 1, 2004, when it was transferred from the American Battle Monuments Commission to the National Park Service, which now operates and maintains the memorial. . It is located on 17th Street, between Constitution and Independence Avenues, and is flanked by the Washington Monument to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.
The memorial is operated by the National Park Service and is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about visiting the memorial, accessibility, parking, directions, special events and other details, please visit the National Park Service Web site at | www.nps.gov/nwwm | or call the Park Service at 202-619-7222
The American Battle Monuments Commission is an independent, executive branch agency with 11 commissioners and a secretary appointed by the president. The ABMC administers, operates and maintains 24 permanent U.S. military cemeteries and 25 memorial structures in 15 countries around the world. The commission is also responsible for the establishment of other memorials in the U.S. as directed by Congress.
President Clinton signed Public Law 103-32 on May 25, 1993, authorizing the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to establish a World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., or its environs. It is the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II and acknowledging the commitment and achievement of the entire nation.
Arsenal of Democracy – Wreaths of oak and wheat on each of the memorial’s pillars symbolize the nation’s industrial and agricultural strength, both of which were essential to the success of the global war effort.
ABMC engaged the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service to act as its agent to manage the memorial project. The design submitted by Friedrich St.Florian, an architect based in Providence, R.I., was selected as one of six semi-finalists in an open, national competition. Leo A Daly, an international architecture firm, assembled the winning team with St.Florian as the design architect. The team also included George E. Hartman of Hartman-Cox Architects, landscape architect Oehme van Sweden & Associates, sculptor Ray Kaskey, and stone carver and letterer Nick Benson. St.Florian’s memorial design concept was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission in the summer of 1998. The commissions approved the preliminary design in 1999, the final architectural design and several ancillary elements in 2000, granite selections in 2001, and sculpture and inscriptions in 2002 and 2003.
The World War II Memorial reminds future generations that we must sometimes sacrifice for causes greater than ourselves. This war that changed the world was ’fought across six of the world’s seven continents and all of its oceans,’ British historian John Keegan wrote, ‘It killed 50 million human beings, left hundreds of millions of others wounded in mind and body . . . ‘ and divested great parts of the world.
How can I register a name in the World War II registry? To register a name via the internet, go to | http://www.wwiimemorial.com | Click on the ‘WWII Registry’ button at the left. Follow the online instructions to enter the name you wish to honor. To register via mail, call 1-800-639-4992 and a form will be mailed to you with instructions.
Four American eagles hold a suspended laurel wreath in the Baldacchino sculpture.
My Dad, served in the Algeria-French Morocco and Tunisia campaigns.
Four American eagles hold a suspended laurel wreath in the Baldacchino sculpture.
CMOH Captain James M. Burt at Memorial Day Program, Beverly Hills M.S. Upper Darby, PA 5-24-2001
WW II Veteran Nate Strauss with his annual Memorial Day memorabilia weekend display in Wilmington, DE
The National Parade Marshal for the 2004 Memorial Day Parade in DC was: Michael De Paulo, COM, National Parliamentarian for Rolling Thunder, National Inc.
The National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. pays tribute to the pride, sacrifice and service of America's Veterans. Memorial Day, which was originally known as Decoration Day, has a history stretching back to the Civil War and serves as an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.
The four Deputy Marshals were also members of different Rolling Thunder Chapters.
The National Memorial Day Parade returned to Washington D.C. in 2004 after a nearly 70-year absence, coinciding with the dedication of the World War II Memorial. This outpouring of appreciation to the veterans of World War II spilled over to veterans of the more recent conflicts as well.
Hal Koster founder and President – ‘Supporting Those Who Serve’ - The mission of the Aleethia Foundation is to support the newly injured troops with short-term therapeutic recreation. The doctors have determined that it is beneficial for the newly injured troops to get out of the hospital environment occasionally. Our mission is to help them get out for meals, movies, sightseeing, and visits to interesting sites. Our main focus is the Friday Night Dinners for the wounded troops from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center. www.aleethia.org
Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family members for military related issues. Veterans have earned these benefits through their service and all are provided at no cost to the veteran or family. 1-800-905-4675
Welcome Home! How can I register a name in the World War II registry? To register a name via the internet, go to | http://www.wwiimemorial.com | Click on the ‘WWII Registry’ button at the left. Follow the online instructions to enter the name you wish to honor. To register via mail, call 1-800-639-4992 and a form will be mailed to you with instructions.
My Father participated in the EAME Campaign receiving two bronze battle stars and one bronze arrowhead. Serving in the Algeria-French Morocco and Tunisia campaigns.
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