I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7243 
To designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum 
in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 2, 2008 
Mr. CLEAVER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World 
War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National 
World War I Memorial. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF THE LIBERTY MEMORIAL AT 
THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MUSEUM IN 
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AS THE NATIONAL 
WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Although more than 4,000,000 Americans 
served in World War I, there is no nationally recog-
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nized memorial honoring the service of such Ameri-
cans in that war. 
(2) In 1919, the people of Kansas City, Mis-
souri, expressed an outpouring of support and raised 
more than $2,000,000 in two weeks for a memorial 
to the service of Americans in World War I. That 
fundraising was an accomplishment unparalleled by 
any other city in the United States irrespective of 
population and reflected the passion of public opin-
ion about World War I, which had so recently ended. 
(3) Following the drive, a national architectural 
competition was held by the American Institute of 
Architects for designs for a memorial to the service 
of Americans in World War I, and the competition 
yielded a design by architect H. Van Buren 
Magonigle. 
(4) On November 1, 1921, more than 100,000 
people witnessed the dedication of the site for the 
Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. That 
dedication marked the only time in history that the 
five allied military leaders present, Lieutenant Gen-
eral Baron Jacques of Belgium, General Armando 
Diaz of Italy, Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France, 
General John J. Pershing of the United States, and 
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Admiral Lord Earl Beatty of Great Britain, were to-
gether at one place. 
(5) General Pershing, a native of Missouri and 
the commander of the American Expeditionary 
Forces in World War I, noted at the November 1, 
1921, dedication that ‘‘[t]he people of Kansas City, 
Missouri, are deeply proud of the beautiful memo-
rial, erected in tribute to the patriotism, the gallant 
achievements, and the heroic sacrifices of their sons 
and daughters who served in our country’s armed 
forces during the World War. It symbolized their 
grateful appreciation of duty well done, and appre-
ciation which I share, because I know so well how 
richly it is merited’’. 
(6) During an Armistice Day ceremony in 
1924, President Calvin Coolidge marked the begin-
ning of a three-year construction project for the Lib-
erty Memorial by the laying of the cornerstone of the 
memorial. 
(7) The 217-foot Liberty Memorial Tower has 
an inscription that reads ‘‘In Honor of Those Who 
Served in the World War in Defense of Liberty and 
Our Country’’ as well as four stone ‘‘Guardian Spir-
its’’ representing courage, honor, patriotism, and 
sacrifice, which rise above the observation deck, 
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making the Liberty Memorial a noble tribute to all 
who served in World War I. 
(8) During a rededication for the Liberty Me-
morial in 1961, World War I veterans and former 
Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisen-
hower recognized the memorial as a constant re-
minder of the sacrifices during World War I and the 
progress that followed. 
(9) The 106th Congress recognized the Liberty 
Memorial as a national symbol of World War I. 
(10) The 108th Congress designated the mu-
seum at the base of the Liberty Memorial as ‘‘Amer-
ica’s National World War I Museum’’. 
(11) The National World War I Museum is the 
only public museum in the United States specifically 
dedicated to the history of World War I. 
(12) The National World War I Museum is 
known throughout the world as a major center of 
World War I remembrance. 
(b) DESIGNATION.—The Liberty Memorial at the Na-
tional World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is 
hereby designated as the ‘‘National World War I Memo-
rial’’. 
Æ 
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