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The memorial honors the 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II, the millions who helped the war effort at home and the 405,399 men and women killed in the fight against Germany, Italy and Japan. The 7.4 acre monument, which was authorized by Congress in 1993, opened to the public on April 29, 2004, and was dedicated on May 29, 2004. It was financed mostly by private funds and cost 174 million dollars. An arching Freedom Wall has 4,000 stars representing the 400,000 Americans who died in the war. On stone in front of the wall are the words, engraved in capital letters, "Here we mark the price of freedom." Two 43-foot tall arches stand at either end of the memorial, representing the Pacific and Atlantic war theaters. Fifty-six 17-foot granite pillars -- representing U.S. territories and states at the time and the District of Columbia -- encircle the Rainbow Pool and plaza. At night, lights mounted in the pillars glow. |