11
11
0
WW II Memorial
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I need your help. A friend of mine in the D.C. area went out to see the memorials and sights around the city before they move back west to start a new chapter of life and was confronted by an unfortunate site at the World War II memorial. Her story is below, but what I need help with is finding out who to speak to about this issue, all of the congressional websites I looked at will not allow me to upload the photograph. My Grandfather served in the Philippines, My wife's Grandfather was a Pearl Harbor survivor, and served throughout the Pacific on the USS Maryland, this blatant disrespect for their sacrifice disturbs me to no end.
This is her story:
This weekend we took a family trip into Washington D.C. for one last visit to a few of the monuments and memorials before we move out of the area. We also wanted to enjoy the lovely weather and cherry blossoms
at their peak.
The scene I was met with at the World War II Memorial left a bitter taste in my mouth, people and their children wading in the memorial fountain as if it were a toddler pool! My maternal grandfather served
in the Marine Corps and fought in WWII in the Pacific he was at Iwo Jima and I was lucky enough to grow up with him as a major part of my life.
I was there for the opening ceremonies of the World War II Memorial and even though my grandfather had passed away five years prior. I got to see the faces and speak with some of the veterans that day and I know how honored they were to have that memorial as a reminder of their sacrifice.
So when I saw at least a hundred people in the fountain, wading and splashing I simply saw red. I'm standing there trying to explain to my six year old that this is a memorial to HONOR sacrifice and right in front of me I have a family stripping their kid down because he is soaking wet from playing in the water.
I looked and there is a small sign about a foot off the ground and only a few inches high by a foot long. It clearly states that wading in the fountain is not allowed and the Nat'l Park Service FAQ website (http://www.nps.gov/wwii/faqs.htm) also clearly states the same - yet there was NO enforcement of that happening on Sunday when we were there.
I try to keep things positive and uplifting - but there are times when you just have to speak up and say this is wrong, and folks this is wrong.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I need your help. A friend of mine in the D.C. area went out to see the memorials and sights around the city before they move back west to start a new chapter of life and was confronted by an unfortunate site at the World War II memorial. Her story is below, but what I need help with is finding out who to speak to about this issue, all of the congressional websites I looked at will not allow me to upload the photograph. My Grandfather served in the Philippines, My wife's Grandfather was a Pearl Harbor survivor, and served throughout the Pacific on the USS Maryland, this blatant disrespect for their sacrifice disturbs me to no end.
This is her story:
This weekend we took a family trip into Washington D.C. for one last visit to a few of the monuments and memorials before we move out of the area. We also wanted to enjoy the lovely weather and cherry blossoms
at their peak.
The scene I was met with at the World War II Memorial left a bitter taste in my mouth, people and their children wading in the memorial fountain as if it were a toddler pool! My maternal grandfather served
in the Marine Corps and fought in WWII in the Pacific he was at Iwo Jima and I was lucky enough to grow up with him as a major part of my life.
I was there for the opening ceremonies of the World War II Memorial and even though my grandfather had passed away five years prior. I got to see the faces and speak with some of the veterans that day and I know how honored they were to have that memorial as a reminder of their sacrifice.
So when I saw at least a hundred people in the fountain, wading and splashing I simply saw red. I'm standing there trying to explain to my six year old that this is a memorial to HONOR sacrifice and right in front of me I have a family stripping their kid down because he is soaking wet from playing in the water.
I looked and there is a small sign about a foot off the ground and only a few inches high by a foot long. It clearly states that wading in the fountain is not allowed and the Nat'l Park Service FAQ website (http://www.nps.gov/wwii/faqs.htm) also clearly states the same - yet there was NO enforcement of that happening on Sunday when we were there.
I try to keep things positive and uplifting - but there are times when you just have to speak up and say this is wrong, and folks this is wrong.
WWII World War Two
Disrespect
Honor
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 17
7
7
0
I have some good news to report. I was just there this memorial day weekend and it is now very well marked with signs that no wading, splashing or playing in the water is allowed. Apparently we were not alone in thinking this was a disgrace! But at least they have corrected the situation. I saw no one in the water and everyone in the area was being very respectful.
(7)
(0)
7
7
0
This is a disgrace to the memories of every WWII Veteran. My father served in the China/Burma/India theater during the war, and I can promise you that if he were alive today and saw this picture he would be outraged, to say the least. Our national monuments are meant to be enjoyed, but when the regulations are set aside or outright ignored something needs to be done. This is a beautiful monument being spoiled by people who care little about what the monument is actually meant to commemorate. To say the least I am more than a little aggravated, I am flat pissed off. In an age of government cutbacks the parks services officers need to be bolstered to prevent disgraces such as this. God forbid we expect our fellow countrymen to behave and follow the laws and regulations set forth for protection of our national treasures. Bombard our congressmen with a letter writing program that brings things like this to their attention, after all that is why we elect them, isn't it?
(7)
(0)
SPC Charles Brown
No apology necessary, you were simply stating you side of an issue. I give no orders anymore, I to am an Honorably discharged veteran who wishes for nothing more than to serve my country in any way I can. Its all good. Like I said, no disrespect intended and thanks for your service. Send me a friend request. I will accept it with honor.
(0)
(0)
5
5
0
I must agree.....seeing this is maddening! If there was a memorial to one of their loved ones, with a water feature of some kind, and people were acting in kind, you KNOW these people would be furious! I guess the best we can do is to pay our respects to the memorial and the sacrifice given by so many, as we should, and try not to let the rest ruin it for us. I don't think it would do much good to try to explain to all of these people how they should act at this humble and solemn place.
(5)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google