WWII MEMORIAL

FDR’S PRAYER FOR THE NATION

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness to their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. The enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest— till the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

These are men lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

“These are men lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest.”

A TWENTY-YEAR PLAN

The World War II Memorial was designed at the turn of the century, with the majority of construction completed in 2004. The contemplative area that memorializes Fredrick Delano Roosevelt’s prayer to the nation on the morning of D-Day in 1944 is set to the northwest of the main plaza as a space for reflection. It sits on a small knoll with views back to the grand memorial.

Originally hosting a small plaque in the plantings, with seating carved out by a stacked stone wall, the intent had always been to unify the space with the main memorial. OvS was called upon to renovate this garden given the ability to recall the firm’s record drawings twenty years prior. Our team recalled the architectural details and symbolism of the original design to provide an humble garden memorializing this day in history.

REALIZED WITH TODAY’S PERSPECTIVE

FDR’s prayer to the nation on the morning of June 6, 1944 emphasized the United States’ intent to invade Normandy as liberators, with U.S. soldiers’ having been “drawn from the ways of peace”. It is this message that he mentions numerous times, and that we reflected in the central wreath of five bronze stars, accented by an olive branch on either side. The plaque itself is cast of the same bronze, set at the height and angle appropriate for one to read in a wheelchair, while visible to those standing behind.

In Detail

This circle took the detail from the benches within the ramparts of the main plaza (shown in the above image), and added bronze armrests between the wall and cantilevered seat.

Originally, the ramparts embellished the base below and structure above the seat, while adding greater structure to reinforce this cantilever. At the contemplative garden, the simple walls utilize a steel plate anchored into the concrete base and reinforced with the bronze armrests (shown in the axonometric detail to the right).

Three arcs of seating open to space along the wall so visitors in wheelchairs and walking, may sit together, while the armrests are designed for those who may need assistance sitting down and rising from the seat.

Responsibilities

- Led design team through Commission of Fine Arts approval;

- Led team of consultants as the Prime Consultant through design, permitting, and construction reviews;

- Project Manager through Construction Observation.