Posted on 05/28/2004 5:07:42 AM PDT by BigWaveBetty
The memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. It will inspire future generations of Americans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in securing freedom and democracy. Above all, the memorial stands as an important symbol of American national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that can flow when a free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause.
Site
The first step in establishing the memorial was the selection of an appropriate site. Congress provided legislative authority for siting the memorial in the prime area of the national capital, known as Area I, which includes the National Mall. The National Park Service, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission approved selection of the Rainbow Pool site at the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. President Clinton dedicated the memorial site during a formal ceremony on Veterans Day 1995.
Design
ABMC engaged the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service to act as its agent to manage the memorial project. The design submitted by Friedrich St.Florian, an architect based in Providence, R.I., was selected as one of six semi-finalists in an open, national competition. Leo A Daly, an international architecture firm, assembled the winning team with St.Florian as the design architect. The team also includes George E. Hartman of Hartman-Cox Architects, Oehme van Sweden & Associates, and sculptor Ray Kaskey. St.Florian’s memorial design concept was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission in the summer of 1998. The commissions approved the preliminary design in 1999, the final architectural design and several ancillary elements in 2000, granite selections in 2001, and sculpture and inscriptions in 2002 and 2003.
Fund-raising Campaign
The memorial is funded primarily by private contributions. The fund-raising campaign was led by National Chairman Senator Bob Dole and National Co-Chairman Frederick W. Smith.
Senator Dole, a World War II veteran seriously wounded on the battlefield and twice decorated with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, was the Republican nominee for president in 1996 and the longest-serving Republican Leader in the U.S. Senate.
Frederick W. Smith is chairman, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Corporation, a $17 billion global transportation and logistics holding company. He is a graduate of Yale and a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, and serves on the boards of various transport, industry and civic organizations.
The memorial received more than $195 million in cash and pledges. This total includes $16 million provided by the federal government.
Timeline
Construction began in September 2001. The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004. The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004 -- Memorial Day Weekend.
ABMC
The American Battle Monuments Commission is an independent, executive branch agency with 11 commissioners and a secretary appointed by the president. The ABMC administers, operates and maintains 24 permanent U.S. military cemeteries and 25 memorial structures in 15 countries around the world. The commission is also responsible for the establishment of other memorials in the U.S. as directed by Congress.
Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Max Desfor poses with his September 2, 1945 photograph (R) of Japan's formal surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, at the Memories of World War II photography exhibition in Washington, May 24, 2004. The newly published documentary photography book 'Memories of World War II' is being released to coincide with the dedication of the National WWII Memorial in Washington on May 29. REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang
These photographs will be among of the images presented in AP's exhibit 'Memories of World War II''
American soldiers, riding camels while off duty, wave to a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in this March 1943 file photo, in Tunisia.
U.S. reinforcements wade through the surf as they land at Normandy in the days following the Allies' June 6,1944, D-Day invasion of occupied France.
U.S. troops in the Pacific islands continued to find enemy holdouts in this March 10, 1945 file photo long after the main Japanese forces had either surrendered or disappeared.
Looking north from 44th Street, New York's Times Square is packed Monday, May 7, 1945, with crowds celebrating the news of Germany's unconditional surrender in World War II.
U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment of the Fifth Division raise the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on Feb. 23, 1945.
U.S. soldiers of Pennsylvania's 28th Infantry Division march along the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe in the background, on Aug. 29, 1944, four days after the liberation of Paris, France.
Also on exhibit Norman Rockwell's paintings 'Four Freedoms.'
Freedom of Speech
Freedom to Worship
More photos at wwiimemorial.com
World War II Memorial Rose
Hooch Induced?
Don't you remember seeing her on FNC the night of the Iowa Caucuses? It was later reported that she somehow had failed to add the Branch Water to the Bourbon and was totally looped while on the air.
It was this same night that she reported that JFKerry had a problem with 'skirts'. We've heard nothing more (legitimate) of that, either.
The 'age appropriate' dress issue arises at both ends of the scale. Finding something casual for us 50 Somethings is nearly impossible. I guess we're suppose to either wear the stuff of teenie boppers or the stuff they wear at Sunshine Acres Retirement Village. There's nothing available for those of us inbetween.
I don't think that I could afford Susan's liquor bill.
My Jeopardy group and I were talking about Susan, and most all said that they would definitely invite her to a party - the motivations varied, but we all thought that she would add a spark.
Mrs.L agrees with the current clothing offerings - sad.
Patrioticus -
A visitor from the past
by Thelan Paulk
I had a dream the other night, I didn't understand.
A figure walking through the mist, with flintlock in his hand.
His clothes were torn and dirty, as he stood beside my bed.
He took off his three-cornered hat, and speaking low, he said:
"We fought a revolution, to secure our liberty.
We wrote the Constitution, as a shield from tyranny.
For future generations, this legacy we gave,
In this, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
"The freedom we secured for you, we hoped you'd always keep,
But tyrants labored endlessly while your parents were asleep.
Your freedom gone - your courage lost - you're no more than a slave,
In this, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
"You buy permits to travel, and permits to own a gun.
Permits to start a business, or to build a place for one.
On land that you believe you own, you pay a yearly rent.
Although you have no voice in choosing, how the money's spent.
"Your children must attend a school, that doesn't educate.
Your Christian values can't be taught, according to the state.
You read about the current news, in a very biased press.
You pay a tax you do not owe, to please the I.R.S.
"Your money is no longer made of Silver, or of Gold.
You trade your wealth for paper, so your life can be controlled.
You pay for crimes that make our Nation, turn from God in shame.
You've taken Satan's number, as you've traded in your name.
"You've given government control, to those who do you harm.
So they can padlock churches, and steal the family farm.
And keep our country deep in debt, put men of God in jail.
Harass your fellow countrymen, while corrupted courts prevail.
"Your public servants don't uphold, the solemn oath they've sworn.
Your daughters visit doctors, so their children won't be born.
Your leaders, ship artillery and guns to foreign shores.
And send your sons to slaughter, fighting other people's wars.
"Can you regain the freedom for which we fought and died?
Or don't you have the courage, or the faith to stand with pride?
Are there no more values, for which you'll fight to save?
Or do you wish your children, to live in fear and be a slave?
"Sons of the Republic, arise and take a stand!
Defend the Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land!
Preserve our great Republic, and each God-given Right!
And pray to GOD to keep the torch, of Freedom burning bright!"
As I awoke he vanished, in the mist from whence he came.
His words were true, we are not free, we have ourselves to blame.
For even now as tyrants, trample each God-given Right.
We only watch and tremble, too afraid to stand and fight.
If he stood by your bedside, in a dream, while you're asleep.
And wondered what remains of our Rights he fought to keep.
What would be your answer, if he called out from the Grave:
IS THIS STILL THE LAND OF THE FREE, AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE???
The U.S. Army is imposing "stop-loss orders" on "all units being deployed on missions in Iraq and Afghanistan," the Los Angeles Times reports. "Such orders prevent active-duty soldiers and reservists from retiring or leaving their units from 90 days before they deploy until 90 days after they return--even if their volunteer commitments to the military end before then." The Times explains the Army's rationale:
Not only do the stop-loss orders boost the number of soldiers who can be sent to combat at one time, they increase the cohesion of deployed units by keeping together soldiers who have worked and trained together, [Army personnel chief Lt. Gen. Franklin] Hagenbeck said. . . .
Cindy Williams, a research scientist in the security studies program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and editor of the book "Filling the Ranks: Transforming the U.S. Military Personnel System," said that while the new orders were not expected to be popular, keeping units together could actually save lives in battle.
"In terms of military effectiveness, it's a good idea. It's really important to keep units together," Williams said. "It's also good from the point of view of the individual who serves. You don't want to be the person who gets brought into the unit when fighting is heavy and be the person that people don't trust yet."
It does, of course, impose a hardship on the soldiers involved, and John Kerry senses a political opportunity. The Associated Press reports from Independence, Mo., that the Democratic nominee-designate said Thursday that the Bush administration has instituted a 'backdoor draft.' " His response:
Kerry said his first priority as commander in chief would be to increase the activity duty force by 40,000 new soldiers who would be ready for possible conflicts outside of Iraq. Half of the new force would be combat troops, the other half civil affairs personnel trained for reconstruction.
Whether or not this is good policy, it certainly makes political sense, helping to blunt the effect of Kerry's weak record on defense. But stop-loss orders are nothing new. The Times notes that the military used them during the original Gulf War and that "since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Army has repeatedly blocked certain soldiers in heavily used specialties from retiring or leaving. Directly after the terrorist attacks, stop-loss orders were issued for special operations soldiers, whose skills were at a premium in Afghanistan."
What even the Times doesn't mention, however, is that in May 1999, as the American Forces Press Service reported at the time, President Clinton authorized the services to institute stop-loss orders. If, as Kerry claims, stop-loss orders are a "backdoor draft" and a sign that the military is too small, why is he only now getting around to proposing new troops? Where was he five years ago? BotW
Tennessee Herb and Prawn Grill
Fresh local ingredients are the key to any great cuisine. Tennessee freshwater prawns and herbs from Tennessee’s own H20Farms make this recipe especially great grilling!
2-3 lbs. Tennessee freshwater prawns
¾ cup Wesson oil
1/3 cup fresh herbs from H20 Farms: equal parts parsley, oregano and basil
1 garlic clove
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
1 small hot pepper, seeded
1 tsp. American Ace prepared mustard
¼ cup lemon juice
Combine all ingredients (except prawns) and puree till smooth. Marinate prawns 30 minutes to 2 hours. Grill medium prawns 1 to 2 minutes per side and large prawns 2 to 3 min.
Susan Estrich is sitting in for Alan Colmes on H&C and I think she's drunk. It's been a wild night. Oh, and Susan has had her eyes done and her brow lifted.
Good grief! I dang near choked to death reading this one.
Susan rocks...and rolls.
Off to FNC.
Thanks, much.
At one point, she introduced Ann Coulter and some dip from the dims and then said nothing - dead air. No question, no topic, no nothing so finally the dim says "well are you going to ask us a question because if not, I'm sure Ann and I could talk forever on our own..." The whole segment was really weird and I think Coulter was PO'd because she hardly got to speak at all - and I don't blame her! It was bizarro - the whole show was bizarro.
Well, to me, Susan appeared clear-eyed and sober, and in bad need of a clarifying shampoo.
What a horrible story that she's covering.
Our poor country.
I got in on the last 5 or 6 minutes of the show, so I missed the Coulter portion.
Yes, obviously, Susan has invested a small fortune in some clean up work.
I thought that sweater open to her navel was a bit much,, it wasn't until the final shot that I noticed she had a tank top on under it.
I guess she doesn't have a Talbot's near where she lives and is buying her stuff in the teen dept. at Dillards.
This Memorial is about 50 years overdue.
When I was a kid in the 60's, the WWI vets were kind of scarce and hard to find.
In a few years there will be no more WWII veterans, no living memories of the greatest generation.
Time moves on, for better or worse.
While I live I will honor them. They are truly "The Greatest Generation".
I just watched something strange on 20/20. A story about HHS sponsored commercials encouraging new mothers to breastfeed. The pediatricians said "the Bush administration" pulled the ads in favor of Big Formula's lobbying efforts to get the commercials nixed. Problem was the some of the information was questionable, i.e., if you don't breastfeed for at least six months the child is at a higher risk for; ear infections - 40%, diabetes - 60%, leukemia - 30%. HHS disputed these percentages among other things.
Leukemia and diabetes I don't know but ear infections can be explained anecdotally. Most working mothers don't breastfeed and they do put the baby in day care, where the child will get a cold at least every two weeks, that can then turn into an ear infection.
The newly revised ads will be running soon. But never forget, that evil GWB wants your child to die.
We've got the V chip, when is someone going to invent a truth in journalism chip?
Now that you mention it, it has been more difficult to find something to wear. I have to stick to boring classic, otherwise it's too too either way. Only occasionally do I happen across something fun and age appropriate.
Have you discovered the new jeans with Lycra? They are great. I like the kind that are made from a thinner denim. So comfy and they look great.
True, but one of the traits of that generation was to not blow their own horn, I'm grateful so many gathered together to make the memorial happen. It turned out so beautifully, I wonder if it would have been so if designed and built at another time. Just so glad they have it now.
Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) (D-MA) hugs former U.S. Senator Max Cleland (D-GA) on the stage before speaking at a campaign rally at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, June 4, 2004. Behind Kerry is Jim Wasser who served with Kerry on a Swift 44 boat. Kerry, a Vietnam veteran, spoke about his commitment to honoring veterans' service to the nation if he is elected president. Cleland received serious injuries during his tour in Vietnam. REUTERS/Eric Miller US ELECTION
It almost like Max and John have to do their little routine each time so Reuters can write that caption.
Check out the crowd in the background...
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Yeah, I was in Vietnam 4 months and earned three purple hearts, a silver star and a bronze star. I could have won the whole war all by myself if they had just let me stay! Bwahahahaha!
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Anybody have the scoop on Veronica Lario, Mrs. Berlusconi? She doesn't smile much. She does have one heck of a pair of man hands (assuming the other is like the one pictured).
LOL. As for children, I've given up finding decent (non-Britney) clothing for my nieces at the dept. stores, and buy exclusively from Lands' End for them.
BWB, I saw that baby formula story on 20/20 and had to laugh. My siblings and I all were bottle-fed nothing but condensed milk with Karo syrup (I have no idea why that was the concoction) and not one of us has had any of those dread diseases that non-breast-fed babies are supposed to get. In fact, we're probably healthier than the average persons of our ages. The ads, as originally submitted, were hysterical, alarmist and - probably - scientifically unsupportable. Notice the HHS official categorically denied the pharmaceutical companies exerted any influence in the department's decision to hold off on the ads, but the ABC reporter just looked at her with scorn. No agendas here, folks, move along.
The clothing war goes no better for guys: thank goodness for finding essentialapparel.com who still stock the traditional OceanPacific shorts for men. I refuse to dress like some wigger-gangsta out looking for a ho.
L -- you guys do have it easier, altho I totally get your aversion to crotches that fall between the knees and ankles.
M & BWB- I turned that breast feeding thing off - I dunno, it doesn't appeal to me. As a wee babe, I'm told I used to pitch my bottle outta the crib on a regular basis - I've never been a fan of milk, mom's or otherwise. I'm a fan of Nestle's Quick and it hasn't hurt me a bit! (grin)
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