THE DEDICATION OF AMERICAN VETERANS DISABLED FOR LIFE MEMORIAL By J. David Bailey, 106th Infantry Division – Member of DAV and VBOB
On October 5, 2014 The American Veterans Disability for Life Memorial was dedicated. More than 3,000 people – many disabled veterans, their families and survivors – covered the grounds of this site – 2.4 acres of serene, a bold reminder of the sacrifices still being made daily and the only memorial to honor the disable veterans of America’s wars.
I was impressed by the remarks made by the President and the Secretary of the Interior, along with the Secretary of Veteran Affairs and actor Gary Sinise, our national spokesman.. Special recognition should be made to Lois Pope and Arthur Wilson co-founders and DAV Director Bobby Barrera.
The Memorial pays tribute to the living and the deceased, male and female, as well as disabled veterans across all branches of the military, through all historic, current and future conflicts. Unlike the six war tribute on the National Mass this memorial sits in the shadow of the Capitol, a purposeful reminder that the cost of military conflict linger far beyond the battlefield.
In granite slabs, glass panels and a single flame atop a solemn reflecting pool, the memorial tells the story of veterans from every conflict and from every branch of service who have borne the brunt of battle and lived to carry the visible – and invisible – wounds of war.
Noted this remarkable accomplishment a 16 year journey would not have been possible without the support the DAV received from veteran organizations, foundations, corporations, and more than a million individual contributors.
Photos by Robert Rhodes, Associate Member