PHOTO ESSAY

The National World War II Memorial was built at the Rainbow Pool site on the central axis of the National Mall. The Rainbow Pool is located at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. The Second World War will be the only 20th century event commemorated on the Mall’s central axis.

The setting for the World War II Memorial is dramatic. The Washington Monument casts its shadow from the east and one cannot help but think about this Commander-in-Chief who so humbly acknowledged the One who watches over this nation.

The rainbow pool is 246 feet 9 inches long and 147 feet 8 inches wide. The movement of the water reminded us that the war waged on land, in the air and at sea.

The monument was immaculate and near perfect. Here at the western side a single carnation lay on the granite at the base of the simple phrase: HERE WE MARK THE PRICE OF FREEDOM.

There are 4,000 sculpted gold stars on the Freedom Wall at the western side of the memorial. Each represents 100 of the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives in World War II

A small reflecting pool before the Freedom Wall multiplied the stars to our eyes and for a moment was a small gaze into eternity. It seemed as if I could hear President Thomas Monson’s voice (also a World War II veteran) at this point, quoting from a beautiful poem or honoring some brave soldier whose story we had never heard before to build our faith and to inspire us to higher heights.