D.C. memorial to be dedicated to World War II (02/13/00)

D.C. memorial to be dedicated to World War II

ARLINGTON, Va. - Members of the World War II generation will all soon have their own memorial on America's National Mall in Washington. Nestled between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial will be funded primarily through private contributions. Its construction, estimated to cost about $100 million, will be overseen by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

This project comes not a moment too soon, for "we lose 1,000 World War II veterans each day," explained Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO of FDX Corp. and national co-chairman of the memorial campaign. "It's time to say thank you to the millions of men and women who did nothing less than help save the world," said the campaign's national chairman, former Sen. Bob Dole.

More than 16 million served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II; 400,000 died and 672,000 were wounded.

The Americans in uniform abroad are not the only objects of the memorial's honor; the millions of Americans on the home front will be commemorated as well. These millions responded heartily to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's plea for America to become "the great arsenal of democracy." Industrial facilities were converted to the task of military production at the onset of the war, and women by the thousands were recruited to take the place of male workers who left for the battlefield. An 800 percent increase in military manufacturing and advanced technology allowed the United States to build one military plane every five minutes and a new war ship every day. This production boost and the spirit of the soldiers were obviously the greatest nurturers of Allied victory.

Members of the World War II generation can be recognized in the memorial's Registry of Remembrances, a permanent record of those whose sacrifice preserved the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today. Information about the Registry and how to help build the World War II Memorial may be obtained by visiting the website at http://www.wwiimemorial.com/ or by calling the toll-free customer service line at 1-800-639-4WW2 (4992).

Tax-deductible donations in honor of the deceased or living members of the World War II generation may also be sent to: World War II Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 96766, Washington, DC 20090-6766.

Organizers hope to break ground by Veterans Day 2000 (November 11), but the construction funds must first be in hand. Said Mr. Smith, "With the continued support of corporations, foundations, veterans organizations and individual Americans, we will complete this memorial before the generation it honors passes into history."

Among the supporters of the National World War II Memorial are the Ukrainian American Veterans, who have already provided financial and moral support.

The monument was authorized by Public Law 103-32, signed by President Bill Clinton on May 25, 1993.

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