National WWII Memorial Information
The National World War II Memorial is located in the prime area of the national capital, at the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. It is the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II and honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died and the millions who supported the war effort from home.
The online World War II Registry includes the names of Americans who are: (a) Buried in American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) overseas military cemeteries; (b) Memorialized on ABMC Tablets of the Missing; (c) Listed on official War and Navy Department Killed in Service rosters now held by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); or (d) Honored by public enrollment in the Registry of Remembrances. A number of the Gateway members filled out a form last year via Option (d) above, and are now in the Registry.
Construction on the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC began in September 2001. The memorial was funded primarily by private contributions. The fund-raising campaign was led by National Chairman Senator Bob Dole and National Co-Chairman Frederick W. Smith. More than $197 million in cash and pledges was received, including $16 million provided by the Federal Government. The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004, and was dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004. The memorial became part of the National Park System on November 1, 2004, when it was transferred to the National Park Service.
The National World War II Memorial website offers additional information about the Memorial as well as a reunion messaging center and the WWII Registry.