118 STAT. 4052 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—MAY 21, 2004 front and acknowledge the commitment and achievement of the entire American people in that conflict; Whereas World War II veteran Roger Durbin of Berkey, Ohio, first proposed the construction of a National World War II memo- rial, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio introduced legis- lation to establish the memorial in the District of Columbia to honor members of the Armed Forces who served in World War II and to commemorate the participation of the United States in that war; Whereas, in Public Law 103–32 (107 Stat. 90; 40 U.S.C. 8903 note), approved May 25, 1993, Congress authorized the American Battle Monuments Commission, an independent Federal agency, to design and construct the memorial; Whereas the location selected as the site for the memorial, the Rainbow Pool site on the National Mall at the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Wash- ington Monument, was dedicated on November 11, 1995; Whereas, in an open competition, the American Battle Monuments Commission selected Friedrich St. Florian as the design architect for the memorial, and his final architectural design was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Secretary of the Interior; Whereas the late Representative Bob Stump of Arizona, who served as Chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, sponsored several measures to expedite the funding and construc- tion of the memorial, which were enacted as sections 601, 602, and 603 of Public Law 106–117 and Public Law 107–11; Whereas after 8 years of planning, 6 years of public deliberation, and 4 years of fund raising, construction began on the memorial in September 2001; Whereas the memorial would not have been possible without the efforts and dedication of National Chairman Senator Robert J. Dole and National Co-Chairman Frederick W. Smith, who were instrumental in raising over $194,000,000 for the construction of the memorial; Whereas these generous contributions came from hundreds of thou- sands of individual Americans, as well as corporations, founda- tions, veterans groups, fraternal and professional organizations, States, communities, and schools; Whereas actor Tom Hanks, the Advertising Council, and the History Channel played a key role in increasing public awareness of the heroic achievements of American World War II veterans and the war effort and in raising support for the memorial; Whereas President George W. Bush will formally dedicate the memorial on May 29, 2004; Whereas the memorial will be a monument to the selfless sacrifice and undaunted courage of the members of the United States Armed Forces who served in World War II and a place of remem- brance to honor the more than 400,000 American servicemen and servicewomen who died in that conflict defending the United States; and VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:04 Nov 10, 2005 Jkt 029194 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 9796 Sfmt 6581 C:\STATUTES\2004\29194PT4.003 APPS10 PsN: 29194PT4
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