Paying tribute
By Fr. Dan McKean

You are about to embark upon the great crusade towards which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you…I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle.
- General Dwight D. Eisenhower
D-Day, June 6, 1944

With these words General Eisenhower began on the most climactic battles of World War II. Two years in the planning and known as Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy would not only be one of the bloodiest battles of WWII, but also one of the most decisive. General Eisenhower was then the Commander of the European theater and was responsible for this bold move. With the fall of the Nazi occupation of France, allied forces would begin the liberation of Europe and bring an end to the war.

Memorial Day 2004 finally saw the dedication of a national monument to those who fought and died in WWII. This memorial will seek to honor some 16 million who served in the U.S. armed forces during WWII. Over 400,000 were killed in battles. Additionally, the entire nation sacrificed to support the war efforts, including several million who worked directly stateside. From Rosie the Riveter, to all the women who filled factory jobs left open by the men serving overseas, WWII made an indelible mark on the generation that lived through it.

After eight years of planning, six years of public debate, construction began in 2001. While the monument has been open to the public for a month, its official dedication was Memorial weekend. Ironically, many of the Veterans of WWII have died long before the construction of this monument. This well-deserved monument is constructed on the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Senator Bob Dole served as the national chairperson for the monument and offers the following commentary:

"When World War II ended, the generation of Americans that defeated the forces of tyranny neither asked for nor expected a memorial. They came home. They went to work. And they built a nation that remains the world's most powerful example of democracy and freedom in action."

"Many heroes from that great conflict did not return home. They didn't live to see the fruits of their sacrifice. More than 12 million of the 16 million who served in uniform will not live to see the memorial completed. We build this memorial in their memory. We build it so future generations of Americans never forget what the World War II generation was called to do. We build it so they never forget the cost of freedom."

"There will come a day when many of our youth will be called veterans. Although our prayers ask for peace, the lessons of history teach us that freedom is not free. It must be earned and it must be protected from those who would conquer and oppress.

"The World War II Memorial will reinforce the message of our National Mall -- the message of freedom -- for generations to come."

Memorial Day has become a time to celebrate and remember many things in our nation. Its history is traced back to Civil War times, when the people of the North and South decorated graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. Known to many and Decoration Day, in 1967 the name was changed to Memorial Day, and in 1971 made an official national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May.

While this Memorial Day will pay special tribute to those veterans of WWII, we remember all who died in service of our nation. Once again we are living at a time when we understand that there is a cost paid by human lives, for our failure to live in peace and justice. As we remember our Veterans let us also pray that the peace of Jesus Christ may truly come to reign. My Jesus give us the peace the world simply cannot seem to achieve.