William G. Sizemore, 33°, Grand Cross

The National World War II Memorial is a fitting salute to
“ The Greatest Generation.”

As a veteran of World War II, I am especially proud to share an overview of the National World War II Memorial, the first national memorial, dedicated on May 29, 2004, to honor all who served during World War II. Also, the article “New Display Salutes the Greatest Generation” on page 18 notes how the Supreme Council is sharing in the nationwide celebration of the new Memorial by creating a summer-long exhibit in the House of the Temple relevant to Freemasons who fought in World War II. Built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the WWII Memorial honors all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation’s call to arms.
On May 25, 1993, Public Law 103-32 authorized the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to establish a World War II Memorial in the nation’s capital to honor 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. The Memorial will inspire future generations of Americans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in securing liberty for peoples around the globe.
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 between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. During a formal ceremony on Veterans Day 1995, President Clinton dedicated the Memorial’s site, and the ABMC engaged the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service to act as its agent to manage the Memorial project. In 1999, after an open national competition of more than 400 concepts, the Com-mission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission selected the vision of Friedrich St. Florian, an architect based in Providence, Rhode Island. This major step was followed by approval of the final architectural design and several ancillary elements in 2000, granite selections in 2001, and sculpture and inscriptions in 2002 and 2003.
Built on a plaza 338 x 240 feet, the Memorial occupies over seven acres and includes the following, among other architectural features: a reconstructed reflecting pool with fountains and waterfalls; a grand ceremonial entrance; two arches 43 feet above grade; 56 granite pillars celebrating the unprecedented unity of each state and territory from that period as well as the District of Columbia; 56 bronze ropes between the pillars; four bronze columns, four bronze eagles, and one bronze laurel within each arch; 24 bronze bas-relief sculptures; 112 bronze wreaths; and 4,000 bronze stars on the Freedom Wall representing the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives. Truly impressive in size, detail, and landscaping, the Memorial is sure to become a lifelong memory for any visitor and a focal point for tourists from around the world.

The Atlantic Arch mirrors the Pacific Arch across the World War II Memorial plaza. The 56 granite pillars surrounding the Memorial celebrate the unprecedented unity of each state and territory from that period as well as the District of Columbia. Photo: Michael E. Noonan, The Scottish Rite Journal

Primarily funded by private contributions, the fund-raising campaign was led by National Chairman, Senator, and Illustrious Brother Robert J. “Bob” Dole, 33°, Grand Cross, and National Co-Chairman Frederick W. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Corporation. 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. As part of the fund-raising campaign, he contributed an article, “The World War II Memorial: United in a Just and Common Cause,” to the September 1998 Scottish Rite Journal and noted that the Scottish Rite Masons had pledged significant support to the Memorial “in helping to raise money for its completion.” The Memorial received more than $193 million in cash and pledges, including $16 million provided by the Federal Government.
Support came from hundreds of thousands of individual Americans, hundreds of corporations and foundations, veterans groups, dozens of civic, professional, and fraternal organizations such as the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, states and one territory, and students in 1,200 schools across the country. Funds remaining after all project costs have been paid will be held on deposit with the U.S. Treasury in a National WWII Memorial Trust Fund. The fund will be used by the American Battle Monuments Commission solely to benefit the World War II Memorial.
Nearly 59 years after the end of World War II and after 11 years of planning, fund-raising, and construction, the National World War II Memorial was dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004, during a four-day official celebration. The extended Memorial Day weekend included a World War II reunion exhibition on the National Mall staged in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, a service of celebration at the Washington National Cathedral, and an entertainment salute by military performing units to WWII veterans.
I urge you to visit this magni-ficent new landmark in our capital and, at the same time, to visit the special display which salutes “The Greatest Generation” in the Americanism Museum of the House of the Temple.

William G. Sizemore
served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1982. Since 1989, he has served the Supreme Council as Grand Executive Director. A Master Mason since 1948 and a member of the Scottish Rite since 1955, he is a Past Master and Past High Priest, R.A.M., and an active member of several Appendant Bodies and Masonic organizations. Contacts: 1733 16th St., NW Washington, DC 20009-3103; Tel: 202-232-3579
Fax 202-464-0487; Grandexec@srmason-sj.org.