The World War II Memorial

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The World War II Memorial pays tribute to all the men and women who served the United States during the Second World War. The United States participated in the conflict from 1941 to 1945. The Memorial, dedicated in 2004, is located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Memorial consists of the memorial plaza, the Rainbow Pool, and granite pillars. Along the entrance to the memorial plaza are 12 bronze relief panels that depict scenes from the Atlantic front and 12 depicting scenes from the Pacific front. The Rainbow pool is in the center of the plaza. Backing the pool is the Freedom Wall. Four thousand gold stars on the Freedom Wall commemorate the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives. During World War II, the gold star was used as a symbol to indicate that a member of the family had lost their life in the war.

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Two large pavilions flank the plaza. Within each pavilion, bronze eagles carry a laurel wreath that memorializes the victory of the World War II generation. The floor of each pavilion contains the World War II victory medal and the words “Victory on Land,” “Victory at Sea,” and “Victory in the Air.” These words serve to remind visitors of the types of battles fought during the war.

Surrounding the memorial plaza are 56 granite pillars that represent the unity of the United States during the war. There is one pillar for each state and territory as well as the District of Columbia. The pillars, inscribed with the name of the state and adorned with a wreath, are arranged in the order each state joined the country.

Inscribed on the walls of the Memorial are the names of important battles, such as Guadalcanal and the Battle of Bulge, as well as quotations from Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, and others. Among the quotations is this one from President Truman: “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”