An Evening
Visit to the WW II Memorial
in Washington D.C.
Part
2
A
Photographic Essay
By Scot Facer Proctor
click
photos to enlarge
|
As
I went to take this photograph of the Freedom Wall with
the Lincoln Memorial in the background
to the west, a young couple walked into the center and just
stood there. The rain was coming down and I thought “let
this moment sink into their hearts and millions of others
like them.” |
I
could not help but see the significance of President George Washington
looking on from the east and President Abraham Lincoln looking
on from the west. What is the price of freedom? These two commander-in-chiefs
knew that price. Eisenhower knew. Roosevelt knew. Churchill knew. Truman knew. Do we know today?
Reading and writing about the news of today, I wonder sometimes
if we forget that there is indeed a price. Freedom truly is not
free
|
56
pillars surround the rainbow pool of the new memorial.
Each is 17 feet above grade, 4 feet 4 inches wide and 3
feet deep. Many stopped and touched the pillars as they
came to their home state or a place that was significant
to them. |
Suzanne
Fields, an admired journalist here in Washington, described the
monument this way: “The new memorial
is as American as apple pie, born of the restless spirit of the
'40s, a product of highbrow esthetics and lowbrow sensibilities,
of uptown sophistication and downtown appreciation of simple pleasures.
Together the men and women who made it happen were finally able
to combine artistic exuberance with traditional images of celebration
and sacrifice, made accessible without snobbery. The memorial
is public art at its best, born of democratic principles for the
good both of Americans and America's visitors.
|
Our
own roots brought our eyes to rest upon this stone. But
it reminded us not only of the state of Deseret
in the west, but an obscure beach in France where so many gave their lives. |
I
always like to see what an artist will sculpt in granite. What
is inscribed upon the walls that will last hundreds of years?
Holiness to the Lord is my favorite—inscribed on every
temple. 58,235 names are inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial
not far from here.
|
A
few battles are honored upon the walls of the memorial,
The Battle of Midway among them. I was struck by the statement: “They
had no right to win.” I am reminded of the nearly insurmountable
odds that have faced so many in the past. |
The
rain continued to drive us quickly around the memorial. Maurine
said, “Are you sure the camera is going to be okay?” We hadn’t
brought an umbrella but I said, “How could we let a little rain
hamper our recording this for others?” I thought of all the weather
conditions that our soldiers, airmen and sailors faced in World
War II and I felt to rejoice that I could take these pictures
in the rain.
|
The
symmetry of the monument is an understatement. It truly
is a monument to the millions who served in this war. |
The
National World War II Memorial was funded almost entirely by private
contributions. The campaign to raise funds received more than
$195 million in cash and pledges. Support came from hundreds of
thousands of individual Americans, hundreds of corporations and
foundations, veterans groups, dozens of civic, fraternal and professional
organizations, states and one territory, and students in 1,200
schools across the country.
|
A
database of those who served in World War II is located
at the memorial and on the Internet. Of course I immediately
looked up my own Uncle who served. |
The
experience of being at this new memorial became more real for
me when I found the name of my own Uncle Keith Facer in the database
located there at the memorial. There is something about seeing
the name of someone you love that moves you like nothing else.
The entry for Keith H. Facer said: “Drafted at age 24. Sent
to Fort Knox, Kentucky in February 1941.” I stopped and thought,
“That’s the same month my own mother (Keith’s sister) left for
her mission to the Central States.” “Assigned to service school
teaching army administration records for 2 ½ years. Then assigned
to 16th armored division. Went to Plzen, Czechoslovakia
and back to the U.S. at end of war in 1945.” If you want to search
for a World War II veteran or you know someone who is or even
those who helped in the war effort, you can go to the World War
II registry online and find them or enter their information into
the database. Click
here to do so.
Click
here to go to Part 3 of An Evening Visit to the WW II Memorial
in Washington D.C
