World War II Memorial, Washington DC

The World War II Memorial is a more recent (2004) addition to Washington's impressive array of memorials. It's located by the Washington Monument in the heart of the Mall. Fifty-six granite pillars surround a square with a fountain in the middle.

Approaching the memorial 

Getting inside was tricky for us since we took the one turn that led to the back of the memorial. Entrances are by the Washington Monument and the north and south sides of the square.

The square with a view of the Washington Monument

The fountain

The square is flanked by two triumphal arches, one labeled "Atlantic" the other "Pacific." Those were the main theaters of war for the United States.

Atlantic arch

Pacific arch

Sculpture inside the arches

Medallion in the floors of the arches

On the Pacific arch

The fifty-six pillars represent the forty-eight states in 1945, the Alaska Territory, the Territory of Hawaii, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

My birth state

My home state (and me!)

Grandpa's home state

I found an inconspicuous engraving of the famous Kilroy Was Here graffiti that became identified with World War II soldiers in the 1940s. They left both the saying and the drawing (not always together) all over Europe.

Off in a corner

The memorial is very beautiful and a relaxing spot to hang out. It holds a special place in my heart since I was part of a swing dance group that did demonstrations and performances on the weekend when the memorial was dedicated.

One last view