National WWII Memorial Opens Today

[KG Erwin]

Here's the story from MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4856773/

As noted in the story, the official dedication ceremony will be May 29. I'm happy that the memorial will be open to the public prior to the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.

I have a quick quiz associated with this, too: there are 56 pillars, representing the states, DC, and the seven US territories. Can you name the seven territories?

[robot]

Not sure on this. But i believe Guam and puorto rico are two of them.

[Irsmert]

Guam, Puerto Rico, Midway, Jhonson Islands, and the other three?

[KG Erwin]

The obvious choices are Alaska and Hawaii, which had not yet gained statehood, and I would add the Philippines. Guam and Puerto Rico for sure. To be honest, I don't know the complete list.

Are any of you going to the dedication ceremony? This promises to be a grand celebration and remembrance, extending over several days. I would think that guys like Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who were great supporters of the memorial, will be making appearances, as well as many WWII vets. Undoubtedly this will be a major media event, as it should be.

[robot]

Dont think the phillipines is a territory of the US. What about the aleutions.
Didnt know you meant at the time of the war. Thought you meant at this time. Knew Alaska was because i lived there while it was still a territory.

[o4r]

I dunno what you all will think of this but to me this is politics. They will spend hundred over million on all this but will never put 100 over thousand for a solider who is injured and out of job due to his handicapped and due to that guy emotion problem get into some other medical problem....

Live is ..... all this meant nothing.... I think those who fought on that war will perfer that the money be used to help their morality injured comrades.

Why are we spending money on those who are dead in the war and let not spend on those who are still alive.... Sigh....[:(]

[KG Erwin]

O4r, if you visited the WWII Memorial site, http://www.wwiimemorial.com/?page=dedic ... age=events , you will see that the total US government financial contribution to building this was $16 million dollars. The other $100 million or so was raised through private donations. Note that this was overwhelmingly a volunteer financial effort, which is appropriate and makes me proud that private citizens are well aware of the sacrifice made by citizen soldiers in that greatest of all wars.