Dedication Stone - BATTLE OF MIDWAY JUNE 4-7, 1942 - THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO WIN. YET THEY DID, AND IN DOING SO THEY CHANGED THE COURSE OF A WAR... EVEN AGAINST THE GREATEST OF ODDS, THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE HUMAN SPIRIT - A MAGIC BLEND OF SKILL, FAITH, AND VALOR - THAT CAN LIFT MEN FROM CERTAIN DEFEAT TO INCREDIBLE VICTORY - Walter Lord Author

Dedication Stone - D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944 - YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON THE GREAT CRUSADE TOWARD WHICH WE HAVE STRIVEN MANY MONTHS. THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE UPON YOU... I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN YOUR COURAGE, DEVOTION TO DUTY AND SKILL IN BATTLE.

Dedication Stone - THE WARS END - TODAY THE GUNS ARE SILENT. A GREAT TRAGEDY HAS ENDED. A GREAT VICTORY HAS BEEN WON. THE SKIES NO LONGER RAIN DEATH - THE SEAS BEAR ONLY COMMERCE - MEN EVERYWHERE WALK UPRIGHT IN THE SUNLIGHT. THE ENTIRE WORLD IS QUIETLY AT PEACE. General Douglas MacArthur

Ceremonial Arch of the Pacific Campaign.

A bronze flag base adorned with the military service seals of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Army Air Forces, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. *

One of two American flags that frame the ceremonial entrance at 17th Street.

Friedrich St. Florian, World War II Memorial Design Architect. "What inspired me was what the incredible generation of Americans did in the middle of the last century. Americans took up arms on a global scale to defend the principles and ideals of our Nation. I would like the younger people to feel walking through this Memorial that if ever a moment in history reoccurs they will be compelled to fight for our principles." *

Dennis and Judy from England wait for the Memorial to open. "The Memorial is absolutely stunning. It is better than one would have expected. What a loss of life."

Bill Line is the spokesperson for the National Park Service. "The National Park Service welcomes all American and International visitors to view a tribute to a generation that gave the supreme sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today."

Workers take down the fence from the perimeter of the World War II Memorial.

The first school group to visit the World War II Memorial.

John Gardner was the first public visitor to the World War II Memorial. "The Memorial is truly a jewel in the Mall." *

Trek America was the first tour group to visit the World War II Memorial.
"The design is pretty and works well with the Mall."

William Owenby, Director of Procurement and Contracting of the Battle Monuments Commission (an independent agency of the executive branch of the federal government). "The Memorial is a fitting tribute to the generation that saved the world."

Jim Walsh was the General Contractor for the World War II Memorial. "People should come out of this Memorial saying thanks to all those that served."