By Mary Frances McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/3/04)

From an idea that was born 17 years ago, and after four years of construction, members of "The Greatest Generation" are finally honored in the nation’s capital.

The National World War II Memorial was dedicated May 29 on the National Mall in Washington, creating, as one speaker said, symmetry between the monument dedicated to George Washington, a great leader of the 18th century, and Abraham Lincoln, a leader of the 19th century. The new monument honors those who served their country in the war, as well as those who stayed at home and worked on the home front.

More than 100,000 people crowded the National Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial to participate in the dedication ceremonies. Speakers at the ceremony included Archbishop Philip Hannan, a World War II Chaplain; Tom Brokaw, new anchor and author of The Greatest Generation; Tom Hanks, national spokesman for the World War II Memorial Campaign; Frederick W. Smith, national co-chairman of the World War II Memorial Campaign; Senator Bob Dole, national chairman of the campaign; Retired General P.S. Kelley, chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission; and President George W. Bush.

Also in attendance were former presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton.

Many veterans remained on the Mall following the dedication to attend the "Reunion," which included dancing to big band music, storytelling and a tent where veterans and their families could post notes in the hopes of finding others whom they served with.

Liz Wells, from Centreville, Md., attended the dedication with photos of her uncle, Robert "Bobby" Logan, who served as a metal smith in Normandy and the Philippines, and her father, St. Clair "Skeeter" Reeves, who served as a bombardier in Europe, in the hopes that someone might recognize them and share stories with her.

Jack Pulwers, a veteran, historian and author from St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly, said he found the monument "very open and spacious." There has been ongoing controversy over the placement of the monument, with some arguing that the Mall should be off limits to new projects and the vast expanse of undeveloped space should be preserved, but Pulwers said, "I think it kept the beauty of the whole area intact. The architecture tied in to the landscape very well."

To remember the 400,000 who died in the war, 4,000 gold stars adorn one wall of the memorial. Pulwers said, "The gold stars were beautifully placed. It’s an ugly thing to have so many young men killed, but the stars were very (appropriate for) the situation."

While the monument pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the war with the display of the stars, "It will live forever for everybody who contributed to World War II, not just the number who died."

Coy Baker, a Marine veteran of World War II, traveled to Washington from Illinois for the dedication. He said he found the memorial to be "very impressive. We’ve waited 59 years for it, but it was well worth it."