The theme of the Memorial will be the honoring of veterans who became disabled while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. It is anticipated that that it will be dedicated in 2010.
It will be a two-acre site located at Washington Avenue (Canal Street) and Second Street, SW. Within full view of the United States Capitol, the two-acre site is located adjacent to the National Mall, and across Independence Avenue from the U.S. Botanic Garden. The focal point of the Memorial will be a star-shaped reflecting pool, its surface broken only by a single eternal flame. A grove of trees will stand beside the pool.
U.S. Congress approved the building of the Memorial in 2000. Sponsors of the Act included Senator John McCain (AZ) and Former Senator Max Cleland (GA) and Representatives Sam Johnson (TX) and Jack Murtha (PA). President Clinton signed the federal legislation into law.
Actor Gary Sinise has been actively involved in the promotion of the memorial. Over the past three years Sinise has participated in more than 20 tours with the United Service Organizations to visit overseas-deployed U.S. troops and visited with wounded servicemembers often with his "Lt. Dan Band," named after Lt. Dan Taylor, the character he played in "Forrest Gump."
Sinise is also an advocate of the "America Supports You" program, a Defense Department initiative that recognizes citizen and corporate support for U.S. military members and communicates that support to servicemembers at home and deployed overseas in the global war on terrorism.
To learn more about the Memorial, visit:
http://www.DisabledVeteransMemorial.org
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