Honoring the 16 million people who served as part of the United States Armed Forces during World War II, the World War II Memorial allows visitors to experience the service, sacrifice, unity, and victory associated with the conflict. Located on the National Mall in Washington D.C., the landmark uses stone, water, bronze, and words to allow audiences to connect with multiple elements and aspects of the conflict that resonate across the eras.
A World War II Memorial on the National Mall
In 1987, World War II veteran Roger Durbin asked U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur why there was no memorial on the National Mall to honor World War II veterans. Interest in creating one would eventually result in the World War II Memorial Act being signed into law in 1993. Friedrich St. Florian’s design that naturally connects the monument with the natural and cultural surroundings of the Mall was selected from a nation-wide competition that had over 400 submissions. Construction on the memorial began in 2001.
Designed to illustrate the relationship between the home front and the battlefront, the memorial is defined by the 56 pillars that surround a fountain in the middle. The pillars represent U.S. states and territories. Two victory pavilions, representing the Atlantic and Pacific theaters where the war was fought, house massive bronze sculptures of eagles laying laurel wreaths above a representation of the Victory Medal.
Dedicated by President George W. Bush in 2004, the federal government donated $16 million to the memorial fund but it took more than $164 million in private donations to build the World War II Memorial. These efforts enabled the creation of a monument that allows audiences to truly experience the sacrifices of countless Americans. It has done so on account of the numerous physical features that have been built into the World War II Memorial.
Experiencing the Honor and Duty of World War II
The north side of the memorial is designed to be a tribute to the victory over the Axis powers in Europe, just as the south side symbolizes the victory in the Pacific. Twelve bronze bas-reliefs decorate the walls of the memorial on either side as one approaches the ceremonial plaza. These reliefs feature various people and depict various locations that defined the conflict.
Each of the pillars is adorned with a bronze oak-and-wheat wreath and inscribed with the state or territory’s name. Quotations from prominent military and political figures, including Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Gen. George C. Marshall, and Gen. Douglas MacArthur are located throughout.
The most prominent feature of the monument is the memorial’s Rainbow Pool in the middle. It resides in the same spot as the Rainbow Pool that had previously been an important element of the National Mall but has been turned into a fountain with incredible water displays. Audiences have been known to engage with the fountain in various ways.
The Freedom Wall contains 4,048 gold stars that pay tribute to American lives lost at war, as each star represents 100 Americans. A stone in front of the wall reads, “here we mark the price of freedom.” The gold stars come from a military tradition in the USA where military families hang small flags in the windows of their homes to note that a family member was serving in uniform.
Lit up at night and mentioned as one of the top things to do at night in DC., the World War II Memorial has become an important element of maps and guides to the city and is also featured as part of numerous products for sale. Additionally, the Honor Flight Network is a non-profit dedicated to bringing veterans to the memorial, creating a whole new level of engagement.
Spanning almost seven and a half acres but intentionally designed to not overpower audiences, more than 4 million people visit World War II Memorial each year. Free and open to the public 24 hours a day, it has provided audiences with multiple ways to connect with and experience the sacrifices of the 405,399 members of the United States Armed Forces in ways that resonate individually and collectively.
Connecting with the Capacity for Sacrifice
Designed to visually recognize the many ways Americans served in the fight to end tyranny while being connected to various other national landmarks, the World War II Memorial functions as a celebratory reminder of individual and communal sacrifice. The way that audiences can experience these reminders and celebrations have defined the World War II Memorial as something much more than a commemorative display to ensure it remains a major attraction for Washington D.C. in the present and future.
