Nearly 4,000 Oregon residents lost their lives during World War II in battle theatres that range from Europe to Africa to the Pacific. To commemorate the service and sacrifice of these Oregonians, the Oregon World War II Memorial was created in Salem, the capital of the state. The monument enables citizens from across the state and country to better understand these sacrifices and ensures that future generations will remember and have a direct connection to them.
Commemorating the People and Stories of World War II
Sitting on the grounds of the Capitol Building, the Oregon World War II Memorial has been dedicated “to all Oregonians who faithfully served both here at home and overseas during World War II.” Some, like Claire Maybelle Phillips, are honored with information plaques that tell their stories.
The names of 3,771 Oregonians who were killed in action during World War II are inscribed on the black granite wall that encircles the memorial. At the bottom of the wall are plaques which contain historical information about various aspects of the war, telling the story of everything from Camp Adair, which was one of the thousands of facilities that were federalized in Oregon during World War II, all the way to detailing how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor impacted the state.
A 33-foot-tall granite pillar dominates the space, beneath which is a map that details the geographic locations for each war theatre. Small plaques provide visitors with details about each area along with QR codes that visitors can utilize to better understand all of these elements.
Funding for the Oregon World War II Memorial came from a variety of sources both private and public. That support is also memorialized in the space itself. Doing so highlights what it can mean to ensure monuments like these come to fruition and why they’re so essential. This support has created a place where the sacrifices and people that defined Oregon’s presence in World War II can be honored by veterans in the present as well as by people into the far future.
A Legacy of and for Oregonians
The dedication of the memorial pulled together well over 1,000 veterans and their families, highlighting the kind of engagement these sorts of monuments can enable. By honoring Oregonians who fought in the war as well as those who supported it from back home, the memorial has created a legacy that future generations can celebrate and admire.
