WWII Washington Memorial

Letter sent to Representative Gabrielle Giffords

What I am writing is probably not new to you. Veterans of this war are dying off by over 1,000 each day. Not only the veterans but also those other citizens such as myself who lived through those trying times. In a few short years we will all be gone. Younger Americans visiting this memorial will think it is a fine tribute to the Americans who did what had to be done and will never get the full significance of President Roosevelt's Declaration of War speech he gave to Congress after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The words he spoke inspired the nation. Whoever edited his speech to its essentials in order to carve it into the monument left out the most important part of that speech.
If you search the web go to WWII Washington Memorial then click on fact sheet and then inscriptions. The Pearl Harbor Speech is condensed as follows;
DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY...NO MATTER HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE US TO OVERCOME THIS PREMEDITATED INVASION,THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN THEIR RIGHTEOUS MIGHT,WILL WIN THROUGH TO ABSOLUTE VICTORY.
That is all that is inscribed. There was a lot of detail in the speech that did not need to be inscribed but his final words were the words that inspired the nation. They were;
WITH CONFIDENCE IN OUR ARMED FORCES-WITH THE UNBOUNDED DETERMINATION OF OUR PEOPLE-WE WILL GAIN THE INEVITABLE TRIUMPH-SO HELP US GOD.
You can find this by searching FDR Library then click on Selected public papers and speeches.
I have written previously to Senators Kyl and McCain. Neither have felt it important enough to do anything about it, so I am now asking you. Those words must be made a part of the memorial or it will be meaningless in years to come.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
October 18, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com

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