OCTOBER 9, 2013
WWII Memorial in Phoenix nears completion
PHOENIX – Although the federal government closed down national parks and veterans memorials around the country, Arizona’s new WWII Memorial is nearing completion and will be open and formally dedicated on December 7, 2013.
After nearly three years of planning and development, Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett and the Guns to Salute the Fallen committee have worked to bring the vision of a complete WWII Memorial to reality. The completed memorial will feature a steel structure containing the names of the approximately 2000 Arizonans who died in the war flanked by historic gun barrels from the USS Arizona and USS Missouri which symbolically represent the beginning and end of the war.
“From the first day we learned that historic gun barrels from the USS Arizona and USS Missouri were rusting in a surplus yard, we’ve been working to create a memorial that honors the courage and sacrifice of our WWII veterans,” said Secretary Bennett. “As we draw closer to its dedication on December 7, I want to invite people to attend the ceremony and remind everyone of the opportunity to purchase an engraved memorial paver to honor friends, family or simply say ‘thank you’ to a veteran or our military. While we have passed the deadline to guarantee placement by the dedication, we are still taking orders for pavers that will be installed as soon as possible.”
Three sizes of memorial pavers are available. 4”x8”, 8”x8” bricks and a 12”x12” granite paver. With a tax-deductible contribution of $125, $500 or $1000, participants may engrave up to three, six or 10 lines of text. These commemorative pavers will be positioned along the walkways between the historic gun barrels from the USS Arizona and USS Missouri. Contributions go toward the completion and dedication of the memorial.
“Too often we forget to honor our Nation’s fallen soldiers who gave us the opportunity live under the blanket known throughout the world as Freedom. That freedom remains intact today for one simple reason – the men and women of our Armed Forces. I invite all Arizonans to join us on December 7 to express our gratitude and sincere appreciation to those who died defending liberty and to the veterans who returned to make our state great.”
For information on the dedication, to make a contribution, watch construction or to purchase a paver, visit www.GunsToSaluteTheFallen.com. Details on the ceremony will be posted over the next few weeks.
