Cremation and World War II Memorial Finally A Reality
On a picture perfect day tens of thousands of people descended upon the nation’s Capitol to pay their respects to “the greatest generation” and to witness the dedication of the World War II Memorial some 59 years after the treaties were signed ending the battles that claimed more than 400,000 American lives. The 7. 4 acre site on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial has been some 17 years in the making. With 1940’s swing music playing, guests started arriving just after dawn for the 2 p. m. event. On hand to witness President Bush dedicate the memorial were two former U. S. presidents, past and present members of Congress, and what has been called the largest gathering of World War II veterans since 1945. Organizers said that 117,000 tickets had been distributed with veterans accounting for about 60 percent of the total. Thousands more watched the ceremony on large screens along the mall. Also in attendance were a number of officers and members of the National Funeral Directors Association which wage an aggressive fund raising campaign to help make the monument a reality. NFDA raised nearly $3 million for the project which makes the association the second highest non-corporate donor behind only the Veterans of Foreign wars. “I am very proud of the NFDA members across the country who embraced this cause and helped to raise nearly $3 million through grassroots efforts in their communities through NFDA’s Celebration of Freedom campaign,” said Christine Pepper, NFDA chief executive officer. “Funeral directors probably more than any group, recognize the importance of memorializing. The WWII Memorial is a lasting tribute to the men and women of honor who served and fought for our freedom. “One of the most memorable experiences for NFDA President Mark Musgrove was at a reception the previous night. “I sat at a table with two congressional medal of honor winners. “Musgrove asked the man if he was comfortable talking about having received his medal. The man told Musgrove that he was in France his platoon was a hill and the Germans stormed the hill eight times over 36 hours-most of his platoon was killed. He was wounded three times. “Listening to him remember that. . . then Bob Dole got up and spoke and they played the “National Anthem” and “God Bless America,” standing there was something I will never forget. “It’s a shame that all funeral directors couldn’t actually be there,” said Mark Musgrove, president of NFDA. “It was truly a moving experience. We sat in an audience of 130,000 veterans and sharing their memories with them was very special and I’ll remember it the rest of my life. “NFDA past President John C. Carmon said this cause was especially significant to funeral directors. “For years funeral directors have learned a great deal from the veterans and their families they have served,” he said. “Dedication, sacrifice and commitment in particular. We have been in a unique position to understand how their war experience has affected their lives and their families. Working on the Memorial has been a privilege and honor to help a nation remember these sacrifices and a greater honor for an organization that was able to unify behind such a great national cause and accomplish such a unselfish goal. Personally seeing the tears well in the eyes of sons and daughters whose veteran fathers had died and knowing that we were remembering and honoring them has made every bit of this effort worthwhile. “Former president Robert Vandenbergh expressed his wish that all members of NFDA who helped in the fundraising effort could have been on hand. He added that the dedication had a personal significance. “My father-in-law served the U. S. Army in the jungles of New Guinea for three and a half years, and he was not even a U. S. citizen,” Vandenbergh said. “It was a small way of saying thank you to him and all the others who served so that we can live as we do today. As I sat there during the ceremony I thought about all of the WWII veterans whose services I have conducted over the years and wished they could see and feel the pride of their comrades who were there that day. It was truly a moving experience to be in Washington for the event.
Acknowledge a Debt
“At this place at this memorial we acknowledge a debt of long standing to an entire generation of Americans-those who died, those who fought and worked and grieved and went on,” said Bush with his father former President George H. W. Bush who was a decorated navy pilot and former President Bill Clinton seated on the dais behind him. “We will raise the American flag over a monument that will stand as long as America itself,” Bush said calling the monument “a fitting tribute. “The ceremony included a moment of silence for those U. S. service members killed in the war. Some 16 million Americans served in the war. The 90 minute ceremony also featured actor Tom Hanks star of “Saving Private Ryan,” and NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw who has authored books focusing on “The Greatest Generation. “Other speakers included former senator Robert J. Dole who led the $175 million memorial’s private fundraising drive. “What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war,” said Dole who was severely wounded as an Army Lieutenant serving in Italy. “Rather it is a tribute to the physical and moral courage that makes heroes out of farm and city boys, that inspires Americans of every generation to lay down their lives for people they’ll never meet. ” Only about 4 million veterans are still alive but they are now dying at the rate of about 1,100 a day according to estimates by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The idea for the memorial was first put forth in 1987 by Roger Durban an Army tank mechanic in the war from Berkey, Ohio. He took his idea to Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio who fought for six years to get Congress to authorize the memorial. Durbin died in 2000 but Kaptur and Durbin’s daughter participated in the ceremony.
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