The capital's major memorials honor esteemed presidents, war veterans, and founding fathers. In the offing is a memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But this year, on May 29, 2004, the American Battle Monuments Commission dedicates the National Mall's newest memorial, the National World War II Memorial. Located at the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II, and honors all military veterans of the war, citizens on the home front, and the nation at large. For more information about the memorial and the dedication ceremony, go to the website, www.wwiimemorial.com, or call tel. 800/639-4WW2.
All of these memorials are located in picturesque West Potomac Park , which lies at the western end of the National Mall, where it borders the Potomac River and encircles the Tidal Basin. Unfortunately, none of the memorials lie directly on a Metro line, so you can expect a bit of a walk from the specified station.
The easiest thing to do, if you're up to it, is to walk from one monument or memorial to the next. You'll want to dress for the weather: light clothing, shades, and sunscreen in summer; a hat, gloves, and warm jacket in winter -- these monuments are set in wide open spaces, providing no or little protection from the elements. But when the weather is lovely, so is the experience of sauntering around West Potomac Park.
Or, you can go by Tourmobile, which continually picks up and discharges passengers at each of these sites throughout the day. The National Park Service manages all of these properties and maintains information about each of them, including upcoming events, at www.nps.gov (click on the "Visit Your Parks" function to find the one you want).
Some believe the best time to visit the memorials is at night, when they're illuminated in all their imposing white-stone glory and all the crowds are gone. Try it -- all of the memorials are safe to visit after dark, with park rangers on hand until 11:45pm year-round, except for the Washington Monument, which closes at 5pm now. You may view the exteriors any time.
