District of Columbia World War One Memorial
I visited Washington D.C. monument to the fallen men of World War One for the first time two weekends ago. My wife and I woke up early on Sunday to borrow two of the hotels bike so that we could make our way over to the Jefferson Memorial. On our way over we passed the Supreme Court, Capital Hill, Botanical Gardens, Museum of Native American, Smithsonians, Washington Monument, and ended up stopping at the District of Columbia World War One memorial. It is a grand structure made of marble. the elevated pediments hold up an amazing marble domed shelter/temple top. On the bottom of the monument is the engraved names of all the District of Columbia perished soldiers during the war.
I always wondered why Washington D.C. didn't have a memorial for for the nation's fallen. As a result I started looking into it more.
Initially I found in the following article from 2013 talking about Congress' decision on how to commemorate the centennial celebration.
Then I also found another article (April 2014) discussing the altering of Pershing Park, near the White House, to be the designated National World War One memorial. This would include altering the current layout to put in a few features at the cost of $10 million dollars. This article also talks about the plans. Note: the World War One Memorial cost $167 million dollars ($16 million from the federal government)
I eventually wandered onto the National World War One Memorial website, which has the opening page with the lat survivor of the Great War, Frank Buckles. As they explained the need for a national monument on the Mall, the following resonated with me, " The World War I is the most forgotten of this nation’s wars, yet it sowed the seeds of World War II, and as noted, it marked the emergence of the United States as a global power, and as a defender of democratic allies against forces of totalitarianism and aggression." It reminds me of our earlier discussion about the importance of World War One.
I remember when I was in eighth grade. Our class decided (I don't know how this came about) to raise money for the World War Two memorial. I remember speaking in chapel in front of the entire school and being really nervous. I also remember collecting money during a dress down day. At that time I did not realize the effects of my actions. At the time I remember thinking that it was an important endeavor and that my grandfather had said how great it was. It wasn't until I visited the memorial in 2006 when I realized what I had contributed to.
I always wondered why Washington D.C. didn't have a memorial for for the nation's fallen. As a result I started looking into it more.
Initially I found in the following article from 2013 talking about Congress' decision on how to commemorate the centennial celebration.
Then I also found another article (April 2014) discussing the altering of Pershing Park, near the White House, to be the designated National World War One memorial. This would include altering the current layout to put in a few features at the cost of $10 million dollars. This article also talks about the plans. Note: the World War One Memorial cost $167 million dollars ($16 million from the federal government)
I eventually wandered onto the National World War One Memorial website, which has the opening page with the lat survivor of the Great War, Frank Buckles. As they explained the need for a national monument on the Mall, the following resonated with me, " The World War I is the most forgotten of this nation’s wars, yet it sowed the seeds of World War II, and as noted, it marked the emergence of the United States as a global power, and as a defender of democratic allies against forces of totalitarianism and aggression." It reminds me of our earlier discussion about the importance of World War One.
I remember when I was in eighth grade. Our class decided (I don't know how this came about) to raise money for the World War Two memorial. I remember speaking in chapel in front of the entire school and being really nervous. I also remember collecting money during a dress down day. At that time I did not realize the effects of my actions. At the time I remember thinking that it was an important endeavor and that my grandfather had said how great it was. It wasn't until I visited the memorial in 2006 when I realized what I had contributed to.