H. Con. Res. 409
Agreed to May 21, 2004
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas the National World War II Memorial on the National
Mall in the District of Columbia will be the first national memo-
rial to both recognize the courage, bravery, and unselfish dedica-
tion of the members of the United States Armed Forces who
served in World War II and those who served on the home
front and acknowledge the commitment and achievement of the
entire American people in that conflict;
Whereas World War II veteran Roger Durbin of Berkey, Ohio,
first proposed the construction of a National World War II memo-
rial, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio introduced legis-
lation to establish the memorial in the District of Columbia
to honor members of the Armed Forces who served in World
War II and to commemorate the participation of the United
States in that war;
Whereas, in Public Law 103–32 (107 Stat. 90; 40 U.S.C. 8903
note), approved May 25, 1993, Congress authorized the American
Battle Monuments Commission, an independent Federal agency,
to design and construct the memorial;
Whereas the location selected as the site for the memorial, the
Rainbow Pool site on the National Mall at the east end of the
Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Wash-
ington Monument, was dedicated on November 11, 1995;
Whereas, in an open competition, the American Battle Monuments
Commission selected Friedrich St. Florian as the design architect
for the memorial, and his final architectural design was approved
by the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning
Commission, and the Secretary of the Interior;
Whereas the late Representative Bob Stump of Arizona, who served
as Chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the
Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives,
sponsored several measures to expedite the funding and construc-
tion of the memorial, which were enacted as sections 601, 602,
and 603 of Public Law 106–117 and Public Law 107–11;
Whereas after 8 years of planning, 6 years of public deliberation,
and 4 years of fund raising, construction began on the memorial
in September 2001;
Whereas the memorial would not have been possible without the
efforts and dedication of National Chairman Senator Robert J.
Dole and National Co-Chairman Frederick W. Smith, who were
instrumental in raising over $194,000,000 for the construction
of the memorial;
H. Con. Res. 409—2
Whereas these generous contributions came from hundreds of thou-
sands of individual Americans, as well as corporations, founda-
tions, veterans groups, fraternal and professional organizations,
States, communities, and schools;
Whereas actor Tom Hanks, the Advertising Council, and the History
Channel played a key role in increasing public awareness of
the heroic achievements of American World War II veterans
and the war effort and in raising support for the memorial;
Whereas President George W. Bush will formally dedicate the
memorial on May 29, 2004;
Whereas the memorial will be a monument to the selfless sacrifice
and undaunted courage of the members of the United States
Armed Forces who served in World War II and a place of remem-
brance to honor the more than 400,000 American servicemen
and servicewomen who died in that conflict defending the United
States; and
Whereas the memorial will be a source of inspiration for current
and future generations of Americans, giving visitors to the memo-
rial a new appreciation for the accomplishments of America’s
World War II generation, which united in the quest to free
the world from tyranny: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That Congress recognizes with humble gratitude the more
than 16,000,000 veterans who served in the United States Armed
Forces during World War II and the Americans who supported
the war effort on the home front and celebrates the completion
of the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall
in the District of Columbia.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.