Michelle

WWII memorial I'm sure everyone knows about World War II and all the deaths of those men and women who fought for their country's freedom. A dictator named Adolf Hitler sprung new hope in Germany. He promised new land and more power which caused a war: World War II. Hitler and the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini joined their nations in a military union. In the early 1930's Japan seized Manchuria and wanted to seize China and southwest Asia. Soon all three nations were craving to rule the surrounding countries.

Americans did not want to be in the conflict, but you have to think America is right smack in the middle of Japan and Germany. Even when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act people still worried. By 1939 German, Japanese, and Italian armed forces were overpowering the United States military. On September 1,1939 Britain and France declared war on Germany. December 7,1941 Japan attacked America, British, and Dutch territories in the Pacific and finally on December 11,1941 Germany and Italy declared war on America.

World War II was the longest and most brutal war in our history. ? The National WWII Memorial is located on the National Mall in Washington D.C. It is in the middle of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The Memorial has 56 pillars, each measuring 17 feet tall and are in a semicircle. The pillars are inscribed with 48 states. (That's how many there were in 1941). There is also the Field of Stars with 4,000 golden stars,each representing 100 men and women. The Memorial was built to honor our soldiers who fought for our country's freedom. Donations, mostly private donations, helped to build the vast memorial. Many military veterans showed up when the memorial first opened in April 29,2004.

The World War II memorial gave honor and pride to those who fought for America's freedom. It reminds all of us of what happened 54 years ago. That is why The World War II National Memorial is a great American landmark.