The National World War II Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II. The memorial, established by the American Battle Monuments Commission, will honor all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation’s call to arms.

Shown below are photographs taken by AMVETS’ Francesca DiMarco of the memorial prior to its public opening. Located between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument on the the National Mall, the structure features two arches dedicated to the European and Pacific Theaters, each with four bronze columns, four bronze eagles and one bronze laurel wreath; 56 pillars, each bearing the name of a U.S. state, district or territory, with 112 alternating bronze wheat and oak wreaths; and the Field of Gold Stars on the Freedom Wall, with 4,000 gold stars, each representing 100 American lives lost.