A Worthy Memorial
A Worthy Memorial
Rep. Boozman's Column for the Week of May 17, 2004
Eleven years ago, Congress authorized the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II and acknowledging the commitment Americans made on the battlefields and the home front to make the world a better place. After years of fundraising and public hearings, construction on the memorial began in September 2001.
This Saturday, the World War II Memorial will receive it's official dedication. Standing between the Lincoln and Washington Monuments on the National Mall, the memorial is a tribute to all the Americans who fought for freedom, including the more than 400,000 who died and the millions who supported the war effort from home.
The memorial was funded almost entirely through the generous donations of grateful Americans. We thank them and the efforts of the workers, who finished the memorial well in advance of this weekend's official dedication.
The importance of completing this project early cannot be understated. Only four million of the sixteen million Americans who served in World War II are still alive. It has been estimated that 1,000 of the remaining World War II veterans die each day. Had this project dragged on well past its anticipated completion date, thousands of World War II veterans would miss the opportunity to see the opening of a national memorial in their honor.
World War II veterans from around the country are expected to flood Washington, D.C. for the dedication ceremony this weekend. The National Park Service is estimating up to 800,000 people will attend the official opening of the monument on May 29th. The official dedication celebration will span four days and will include a WWII-themed reunion exhibition on the National Mall staged in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, a service of celebration at the Washington National Cathedral, and an entertainment salute to WWII veterans from military performing units.
Most Americans cannot get to Washington, D.C. for the ceremony, so communities and veteran service organizations across the country are planning local tributes on dedication day. A specially produced broadcast of the noon pre-dedication "Tribute" event and the 2 p.m. dedication ceremony that follows will be available for viewing at these events via satellite. Those wishing to learn more about viewing events in their areas should contact their local veteran service organizations such as the American Legion and VFW.
The History Channel and C-SPAN will each carry the two-hour dedication ceremony live starting at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 29th. These broadcasts will ensure that virtually every American can pay tribute to the members of the World War II generation.
The World War II Memorial is a symbol of the defining event of the 20th Century. This is a monument not only to the spirit and sacrifices of the World War II Generation, but of their commitment to cause much greater than any one of them individually. Without their sacrifices, the world could very easily be a different place, a place where tyranny rules and Nazi, fascist and communist regimes are the norm.
Today, their sacrifice is more apparent then ever. The men and women of our armed forces are spread out across the globe fighting a new enemy of freedom. Whereas tyranny was the greatest threat to freedom facing the World War II Generation, radical Islamic terror organizations and their supporters pose a similar threat to the world today.
The men and women of our armed forces are making huge sacrifices to defend freedom. They are putting themselves in harm's way against an enemy that will resort to any tactics to win. It will be a difficult fight, but one we know we can win.
The World War II Generation has taught us that sacrifice, commitment and the courage to do the right thing can make the world a better and safer place. Today, they inspire us, as we fight a new global war, to stand firm in the face of danger. In doing so, we can shape the course of history. Now, these great Americans rightfully have a national memorial to remind us of that lesson every day.