American Legion stood strong against opponents as 1,000 veterans were dying every day.
The American Legion’s first expression of support for a National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. came in the form of a resolution, without financial obligation, passed at the 1988 National Convention in Louisville, Ky. Like most memorials proposed on or around the National Mall, the idea would face its share of opposition.
Legislation to authorize construction of the memorial failed three times in Congress before it finally passed in 1993 and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The battle to turn a legislative act into constructive action was only just starting at that time. Eleven years would pass – as World War II veterans were dying at a rate of about 1,100 per day – before the memorial would be completed.
The American Legion National Executive Committee reiterated its support for the memorial by resolution in October 1995 as the American Battle Monuments Commission was “in the process of selecting a site, originating a design and erecting a memorial in Washington D.C. dedicated to the valiant service of World War II veterans.”
In May 1997, The American Legion lifted the “without financial obligation” language from its support, opened the door to national fundraising and committed an amount of “seed money” not to exceed $250,000 for the project, estimated to cost $100 million in the end. American Legion National Commander Joseph Frank appeared before the Fine Arts Commission in support of the memorial in July 1997, and campaign chairman and former U.S. Sen. Robert Dole, a World War II combat veteran and American Legion member, said that testimony helped move the project forward.
“His words of support and profound insight helped build a more convincing argument for the World War II memorial,” Dole said at the Sept. 4, 1997, American Legion National Convention in Orlando, Fla.
Dole’s remarks at the national convention were emotional and received a standing ovation from thousands of American Legion Family members who saw him receive the organization’s prestigious Distinguished Service Medal that year.
“World War II is one of those rare events that looks even larger from a distance,” Dole told the crowd. “But for those of us who served, we did not see the big picture; we saw the small struggles. We did not hear the call of history; we heard the voices of friends. Voices that still haunt and comfort the memory of many veterans. Voices of confidence. Voices that ended in a moment, in a place far from home …
“To this generation, we owe a debt. We repay it with a pledge – to preserve that memory against the tide of time. As long as there are individuals like you, to serve as living role models, and to educate future generations of Americans in developing their understanding of the important legacy of freedom and democracy, the memory will last forever.”
A groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 11, 2000, did not end the struggle with critics and opponents. American Legion National Commander Ray Smith joined Dole, President Clinton, “Saving Private Ryan” star Tom Hanks and others at the ceremony to turn the first shovelful of earth at the site. "The cause of democracy prevailed behind the unflinching courage of 16 million World War II service members, 400,000 of whom gave their lives in military service," Smith said after ground was broken. "The memorial will be a reminder of one generation's exemplary devotion to the principles of freedom, justice and equality - values that inspired many generations of American patriots to march into hell for a just cause."
The National Coalition to Save Our Mall, however, filed suit to halt construction on the site, arguing the memorial would disrupt the sweeping landscape of the National Mall. By that time, 22 public hearings had been conducted over a five-year period as the location and design were debated. “Already,” Commander Smith said in May 2001 as the project hit another hurdle, “it will have taken longer to build the memorial than to fight the war.”
Smith called on Legionnaires to contact their congressional delegations to urge passage of a bill that would require immediate construction. He also encouraged them to contact members of the opposing coalition to let them know how The American Legion felt. “Surely, opponents of the memorial have a right to express their opinion,” Smith said. “But the coalition's aesthetic passion conveys an astounding disregard for those whose sacrifice already saved the Mall - and saved from tyranny every square inch where democracy has flourished.”
"Some protesters formed a group called Save the Mall," Dole told The American Legion Magazine. "My response to Save the Mall was, 'We already saved the Mall in World War II, and we saved everything else in town, too."'
Full construction finally began and moved swiftly, toward a May 29, 2004, dedication ceremony attended by some 150,000 spectators. President George W. Bush presided over the ceremony.
“These were the modest sons of a peaceful country, and millions of us are very proud to call them ‘Dad,’” said President Bush, the son of World War II combat veteran George H.W. Bush, who also attended the dedication. “They gave the best years of their lives to the greatest mission their country ever accepted.”
Today, the criticisms, controversies and challenges have faded into history, as some 5 million visit the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
- Honor & Remembrance