From CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- At 107, Frank Buckles must know there is not much time for him to honor the memory of his comrades who served the United States during the first World War. He's the last surviving U.S. veteran of what then was called the Great War.

Buckles, during World War I, drove ambulances and later transported prisoners of war.

2 of 2 The old soldier comes to Washington Tuesday hoping to turn a run-down local memorial on the National Mall into something in keeping with other, permanent monuments to Americans who've sacrificed in other wars.

Buckles, who left the Army as a corporal, first visited the site back in March. "I think it was a very nice idea," he said from his wheelchair, after he and an aide had toured the gazebo-styled structure.

Buckles noted that the memorial is not national but was built primarily to honor about 500 veterans from the District of Columbia.

"I can read here that it was started to include the names of those who were local," Buckles said.

He has since joined a crusade to establish the site as a national memorial, which includes a legislative push from Texas Republican congressman Ted Poe. He and Buckles plan to announce details of their mission at a 2 p.m. news conference held at the D.C. memorial site.

Also pushing the overhaul and upgrade are the D.C. Preservation League and the World War I Memorial Foundation.

The site of the current monument -- in dense woods not far from the fresh and elaborate World War II memorial -- is hard to find, even in the dead of winter, when Buckles last visited.

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"We just saw it through the trees," tourist Regina Duffy told CNN back in March. "I was surprised when we got over here that it was a World War I memorial because I thought it would be more prominent."

With summer foliage fully in bloom, the city's monument is almost completely obscured.

Zeke Musa of Florida said it "looks like it's been neglected."

"If you just look at the walks here, all the stones are broken and everything. These guys served their country, you know? It's a shame," said Musa, a Vietnam veteran.

According to an autobiography released earlier this year by the Pentagon, Buckles was eager to join the war. Although only 16 in the summer of 1917, he lied about his age to get into the armed services.

He said his recruiter told him "the Ambulance Service was the quickest way to get to France," so he took training in trench casualty retrieval.

Buckles eventually was an officer's escort in France before joining a detail transporting German prisoners of war.

He now lives on his family's cattle farm near Charles Town, West Virginia.

If you haven't seen the WW1 Memorial in Kansas City, Mo. You should try and

find a pictureof it. It sits on top ofa hill overlooking downtown K.C. Mo. Couple

of months ago there was a celebration there. And Frank Buckles was honored.

I go there almost every day for my daily walk--The walk is 1 mile long. I will send

Marion a postcard of it tomorrow. It's No. 1 in the U.S.A. Rocky

Here are some pictures of Rocky's WWI memorial: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Memorial

Amazing that Mr. Buckles is still around. Hopefully those in Washington will get their acts together. At least with the WWII memorial there were a lot of Vets and their families still around to push for it. I don't think Mr. Buckles can lobby much at his age.

THANK YOU CAPT.0---IT IS QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT. I GAZE AT IT

EVERYTIME I WALK THERE. THE HUGE ENTRANCE HAS SOLID BRONZE

DOORS, THE POOL IS IN THREE STAGES, THE ONE IN THE PIC. THEY

CALL IT THE MEDITATION POOL. ROQUE

It is beautiful. I've seen pictures from inside in the past, but never the exterior of the building. Thanks for posting it.

God bless Mr Buckles:

Thought I would share a few sites with all of you. Thanks for your participation in this wonderful topic!

This category seeks to waymark all World War I Memorials and Monuments, big and small, located throughout the world. This category applies to general memorials erected by cities, counties, towns, villages and nations to honor native soldiers as a group. (Monuments and memorials to individual soldiers of WWI are not permitted.) Very extensive listing!

http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx...e5-984fa1f33b0a

Kansas City WWI Museum

http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/

I have a brick at the--- WALK OF HONOR --- Every time I go for a walk there, I stop at the lower left hand

corner, where there is a marker with two roses dedicated to POW-MIAs', I stop and give a SLOW HAND SALUTE.

Rocky clickon, Buy A Brick, you will see the marker

Beautiful memorial!

M1 - loved the WWI waymarking site. Think it's such a great idea to document all the individual WWI and WWII memorials.I looked to see if they had a photo of the Wellesley Ma WWII Memorial - but they don't have it. I'll have to drive over and photograph it. I've got the invitation that was sent to my grandparents, inviting them to attend the dedication (both their sons names are on it).

Every year the names of all those from Wellesley who died in service to their Country

are read at a special Veteran's Mass. Here's an nice article about this year's Mass.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/news/...ct-for-veterans

My Dad grew up with these fellows. Vincent Rogers was a friend of his who was KIA in the Pacific - I believe in 1942.