World War II Memorial
"They fought together as brothers-in-arms. They died together and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation." – Admiral Chester A. Nimitz
The World War II Memorial was commissioned by President Clinton on May 25, 1993. The approval process, which can sometimes take decades, was expedited so that the memorial could be built while veterans of the war were still alive to enjoy it. Construction began in September, 2001 and the memorial was dedicated by President George W. Bush on May 29, 2004.
The memorial was designed by Friedrich St. Florian. It is split into two sides, representing the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. There are pillars surrounding the entirety of the structure, each with the name of a US state or territory from which a person was involved in the war. The east-facing wall of the memorial, the Freedom Wall, is covered with 4,048 gold stars, one for every 100 Americans who lost their lives in some aspect of WWII. Despite controversy surrounding its design and location, the memorial attracts more than 4.4 million visitors each year.