A War Memorial Turns 15

Fifteen years ago, a new memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. Since then, millions of visitors have walked through the memorial and paid tribute to the men and women who served in World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945.

In honor of Memorial Day on May 27, The Mini Page visits the National World War II Memorial.

World War II

The Second World War ended almost 75 years ago. You may have great-grandparents who helped our country fight its way to victory.

Franklin Roosevelt was president during most of World War II. Harry S. Truman took over when Roosevelt died in 1945. Hewas president when the war ended.

The United States did not enter the war until 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, a U.S. base for the Navy. Roosevelt called Dec. 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy*,” and Congress declared war on Dec. 8. Americans fought World War II in twomain

theaters, or regions, which came to be known as the Atlantic and Pacific. More than 30 countries eventually were involved in the war.

The memorial

• The two arches stand for the Atlantic and Pacific regions.

• At the time of World War II, there were 48 states, seven territories and the District of Columbia. The memorial has 56

pillars, each one with the name of the state or territory and bronze oak and wheat wreaths.

• Twenty-four panels made of bronze line the entrance to the memorial. These showscenes from the war, including soldiers getting medical exams and coming home from the war.

• The Rainbow Pool is at the center of the memorial.

• The memorial lies on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

* Infamy (IN-feh-mee) means dishonor.

Mini Fact: The Freedom Wall has 4,048 gold stars. Each star stands for 100 of those who died in the war.

NPS photos by Victoria Staufffenberg