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Placing the huge memorial in the center of the mall's wide, 2-mile stretch from the Capitol building to the Washington monument raised controversy. The unencumbered open space was originally designed to symbolize freedom and provided an area sympathetic to the unfettered gathering of the people.
Many iconic gatherings on the mall have been characterized by a large mass of citizens coming together in unity, including Marian Anderson's 1939 recital from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, the Million Man March, the Million Mom March, and the display of the AIDS quilt.
Before the monument was built, USA Today said, "There's nothing wrong with the proposed National World War II Memorial that a change of location wouldn't fix."
Seven possible sites had been considered, and the Constitution Gardens site was initially selected. According to the National Coalition to Save Our Mall, "the Memorial was moved to the Rainbow Pool site " without proper public notice ... (and) the design violates the National Historic Preservation Act by adversely changing this historic area."
Ironically, the strongly militaristic design of the memorial has been compared to the totalitarian architecture of the old Soviet Union and to the Third Reich style of Hitler's architect, Albert Speer.
Not all veterans were in support of the design of the monument, nor of the location. "I would gladly give up my Purple Heart for doing away with that horrible desecration. ..." Clark Ashby, 78, told a crowd of protesters outside the Capitol before the final vote on the location.
But while the memorial has been challenged artistically, aesthetically, and for its placement, there is no disagreement about appreciating the veterans.
The Wall Street Journal said. "Goodness knows, we have nothing against honoring World War II veterans. " What the heroes of World War II really deserve is a monument conceived with more sensitivity to the other 'landmarks of the American experiment and reviewed with more respect for the democratic ideals they fought and died to defend."
On the Lighter Side
Nevertheless there were humorous moments at the memorial. Many veterans got a big chuckle out of seeing Kilroy, the familiar wartime icon, inscribed in a nearly hidden section of the monument.
Another amusement, at least for the women, was the natural result of the gender balance of visitors. In an unexpected turnaround, it was the men who had to wait on long lines for the bathroom. Inside the ladies' rest room, an instant sisterhood blossomed, with hilarious banter about the unexpected but welcome reversal of fortune.
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