World War II Memorial

The WWII Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people.

The memorial is divided into two sides, representing the Atlantic and Pacific fronts, and 56 pillars. Each pillar has two wreaths, one inside and one outside. One wreath consists of oak leaves, representing industrial might. The other consists of wheat, representing the agricultural might of the U.S.

From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial the World War II Memorial is almost invisible. This is not by accident. The designers wanted to preserve the picturesque view from the far end of the National Mall.

The 4,048 Gold Stars on the Freedom Wall honors the 416,800 American servicemen who died in uniform during WWII (each star represeting 100 service members).

Look for “Kilroy” hiding on the outside of the memorial on the side closest to Lincoln. Kilroy was a symbol of American Serviceman, and writing “Kilroy was here” was a claim of victory.