Redwood Reader

23. The World War Two National Reunion and Memorial Dedication on the Mall My cousin sent me this account of her day at the National WWII Memorial Dedication. It is like she is writing for everyone who wasn't able to make it, so I wanted to share it.
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We went to the WWII Memorial Ceremony, or more specifically to the Smithsonian's (SI) National Reunion on The Mall. The weather was spectacularly beautiful, cool and clear. The 90 degree heat we had been having all week evaporated and the worry about heat causing problems never materialized.
We took the Metro downtown and have NEVER seen DC be so welcoming. Yes, there were Vets and their families and friends everywhere, but the cordiality and help they received I'm sure made this historic trip all the more enjoyable. The Metro can be baffling to out of towners (and to this "local") but we saw so many Metro employees in bright vests helping with fare cards, directions, physical assistance. I'm sorry to say, this much help is not typical.
When we got to our Metro stop, the roads had been closed in the whole area so the Mall became a relaxed pedestrian mall. There was security EVERYWHERE - DC police, park police, capital police, park rangers, "men in black cars", horses, bicycles, police cars, helicopters. I heard a coordination call with the FBI on one of their radios. The mood was very very happy and friendly, but the presence was a bit "creepy". It did not however impose on the celebratory feelings at all.
We were told that Wal-Mart supplied (donated?) 400,00 bottles of water. We believe it because cases of water was just stacked up EVERYWHERE free for the taking. There were also a bazillion port-o-potties. Usually at these kind of events on the Mall, there is a walk and a wait for the facilities. Not so this week. They thought of everything for our Veteran guests.
We visited each of the tents that the SI had open. We earned medals for codebreaking, rationing and plane spotting. We grabbed info and talked to many veterans service groups. You know there are veterans groups like the VFW, American Legion and Purple Heart. Did you know there are groups for Catholic veterans, Jewish veterans and Polish veterans, Japanese Veterans, Black Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans, for Air Force officers and Non-Commissioned Officers, Gold Star Wives, Gold Star Mothers, Retired Enlisted and Women Veterans? They all have specific interests and services, but most seem to be trying to help their constituents wrestle their way through the Veterans Administration. I learned that the eligibility for benefits has been boomed with new legislation but the budget has not. (Time to send that Congressperson a note?)
One organization that particularly caught my attention was the Wounded Warrior Project. With recovery and medical care so much improved, fewer soldiers are dying but more are seriously wounded and in need of long and intense medical care. When a soldier is wounded and rescued, he travels to medical care with only the clothes he is wearing. Wounded Warrior provides each of these soldiers with backpack of clean clothes, personal care items, and someone to meet him or her right away to lend and ear and assistance in seeking care and benefits. They work with the families of the wounded as they are transported to long term rehabilitation and vocational training. I grabbed some information and they can be found at woundedwarriorproject.org
We stopped in but did not stay long where vets were writing and telling their stories to volunteers. The written stories are going to be available through the Library of Congress at www.loc.gov/vets That website is supposed to have information to help you in collecting veteran stories from and for your own family. We didn't see any veteran interviews, but I heard some today on our local C-Span radio, so I imagine some of them will be on C-Span TV from time to time. We saw camera teams from all the local stations, networks, PBS, C-Span, and other organizations speaking with all the vets they could find. I hope the Vets felt like the celebrities they were for this occasion.
You can now find a veterans' grave in a National Cemetery online. I've used this at various cemeteries in my genealogy research, but since early May(?) it's now available online. www.cem.va.gov
(Don't you just love the Internet?)

We visited the Reunion Hall where they had stations set so up that you could locate fellow vets. They were labeled by Divisions for the Army, and by Fleet for the Navy. We found my Dad's 69th and left a contact message for other vets of his 274th Battalion. Someone from the 274th Bn B (Dad was Bn A) left a contact message. We took that info home with us. Someone left a photo of the 274th Quartermaster Corp. It looked just like the photo I sent around of Dad's unit from Camp Shelby. I had a photocopy of Dad's photo and left it at home (darn!) It may have sparked a memory or contact from someone. I didn't have Division or Fleet information for anyone else but we looked as much as we could with the information we had. We stopped by each display trying to find information and to do honor to everyone we carried by name with us even if we did not know precisely where they had served.
Most of the messages had names and units and email addresses, but other had names and notes like "staying at the Arlington Hyatt". There was a big band concert planned for the evening - oh I bet there was plenty of fun and story telling that evening. And maybe quieter sadder memories shared in hotel bars even later into the night.
The last stop was restored Army vehicles - tanks, trucks, half tracks, and lots of Jeeps! We got to chat with a number of the owners. Some are owned by younger re-enactors, others by Vets who bring them to their Unit reunions. They are restored with blood, sweat tears, $$$, patient wives and lots of love. And they are a tremendous source of pride for all their owners.
That was about it and it was time to head home. As we strolled back to the Metro station, we passed an area roped off for a viewing area for the Memorial Ceremony. This was for Section 3. It was huge and set up with thousands of chairs (who did all that work?). There were jumbo TV screens and an excellent sound system. Now mind you, this was a section on the Mall, some long distance away from the actual Memorial near the Washington Monument. On the TV, we could see the sweep of others gathered in other sections around the Memorial and near the Monument. The numbers were staggering. Our estimate was that about 1/3 of the audience were veterans, and the rest their families.
As we walked by, the Ceremony was in process. Since there were plenty of empty seats, we could walk in (get a goody bag) and take a seat to watch and listen. We came in time to see Tom Brokaw and Tom Hanks speak. Tom Brokaw wrote the book The Greatest Generation. His speech was a salute to the thousands of "ordinary" men and women who took on of the task of war. He saluted their bravery and dedication, but then told the story of all these veterans returning home to go to school, get jobs and raise families. He admitted that they were not all perfect, but stood to defend his title of "The Greatest Generation" for them. The speech had me in tears then, in tears again when I watched the replay on TV, and again now as I recollect what he said. There were quite a few moments during the day when I cried because I so missed my Dad, and was missing the opportunity to share the day with him. If you can catch Brokaw's speech on TV, or can find the text, I suggest you read or view it. See if you too aren't moved by what he had to say.
They said during the ceremony that arrangements had been made for the ceremony to be viewed at VA hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, and community centers around the country. So even with all the veterans attending the Ceremony itself (they said there's never been a veteran's reunion as large as this one ever), there were still thousands more sharing the day and the honor.
We headed home after that and saw the rest of the ceremony on the re-play on TV. I liked the way that they kept it fairly simple and focused on the veterans in attendance. But when they flew the flag, sang "God Bless America", and flew jets overhead, I busted into tears again. I am such a sucker for patriotism, and can remember being so even when I was very young.
It was as memorable and satisfying a day as Bill & I had hoped. I was pleasantly surprised by the vigor and enthusiasm of the veteran's and their spouses. By far, most of them looked to be in very good health. (A good sign for us baby-boomers?) There were lots of smiles, and a little dancing and singing. Lots of children and grandchildren. Beautiful ceremony. Beautiful weather. A beautiful day.

copyright 2004 Patricia Reidy Lawrence