An awful omission
#1

: A terrible omission

 

The Omission From the New W.W.II Memorial

 

 

Today I went to visit the new World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. I got an unexpected history lesson. Since I'm a baby boomer, I was one of the youngest in the crowd. Most were the age of my parents, veterans of "the greatest war" with their families. It was a beautiful day, and people were smiling and happy to be there. Hundreds of us milled around the memorial, reading the inspiring words of Ike and Truman that are engraved there.

 

On the Pacific side of the memorial, a group of us gathered to read the words President Roosevelt used to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor: "Yesterday, December 7, 1941-- a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked."

 

One woman read the words aloud:

" With confidence in our armed forces, with the un bounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph."

 

But as she read, she was suddenly angry. "Wait a minute," she said.

 

"They left out the end of the quote. They left out the most important part. Roosevelt said: "so help us God."

 

"You're probably right," her husband said. "We're not supposed to say things like that now."

 

"I know I'm right," she insisted. "I remember the speech" The two shook their heads sadly and walked away.

 

Listening to their conversation, I thought to myself, "Well, it has been 50 years. She's probably forgotten."

 

But she was right.

 

I went home and pulled out the book my book club is reading. It's "Flags of Our Fathers" by James Bradley. It's all about Iwo Jima. I haven't gotten too far in the book. It's tough to read because it's ! a graphic description of the battles in the Pacific.

 

But right there it was on page 58. Roosevelt's speech to the nation It ends "so help us God."

 

The people who edited out that part of the speech when they engraved it on the memorial could have fooled me. I was born after the war. But they couldn't fool the people who were there. Roosevelt's words are engraved on their hearts.

 

WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE WORDS OF HISTORY?????????

Reply
#2

Actually in all fairness to the WWII Memorial I have to tell everyone that this IS NOT TRUE. This is in no way Art's fault. ;) People send this stuff to all of us and sometimes it is hard to discern what is true and what isn't.

 

I know many people are angry over the very few in this country who are trying to take God out, but in this case they didn't. :(

 

It wasn't possible to include his entire speech. In many cases, as with this one, they used part of his speech as they have over and over during the last 60 years. The inscription at the memorial is as follows:

 

PEARL HARBOR

DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY…NO

MATTER HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE US TO OVERCOME THIS

PREMEDITATED INVASION, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN THEIR

RIGHTEOUS MIGHT, WILL WIN THROUGH TO ABSOLUTE VICTORY.

 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

Now here is the speech in its entirety. As you can see it is quite lengthy:

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December 8, 1941

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

 

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

 

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

 

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

 

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

 

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

 

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

 

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

 

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

 

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

 

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

 

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

Below are all the inscriptions from the WWII MEMORIAL

 

National World War II Memorial Inscriptions

 

 

The following inscriptions are inscribed in the National World War II Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The inscriptions are presented by location.

 

Announcement Stone

 

HERE IN THE PRESENCE OF WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN,

ONE THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY FATHER AND THE OTHER THE

NINETEENTH CENTURY PRESERVER OF OUR NATION, WE HONOR

THOSE TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICANS WHO TOOK UP THE STRUGGLE

DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND MADE THE SACRIFICES TO

PERPETUATE THE GIFT OUR FOREFATHERS ENTRUSTED TO US:

A NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

 

Flagpoles

 

AMERICANS CAME TO LIBERATE, NOT TO CONQUER,

TO RESTORE FREEDOM AND TO END TYRANNY

 

Eastern Corners

 

PEARL HARBOR

DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY…NO

MATTER HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE US TO OVERCOME THIS

PREMEDITATED INVASION, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN THEIR

RIGHTEOUS MIGHT, WILL WIN THROUGH TO ABSOLUTE VICTORY.

 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

THEY HAVE GIVEN THEIR SONS TO THE MILITARY SERVICES. THEY

HAVE STOKED THE FURNACES AND HURRIED THE FACTORY WHEELS.

THEY HAVE MADE THE PLANES AND WELDED THE TANKS,

RIVETED THE SHIPS AND ROLLED THE SHELLS.

 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

WOMEN WHO STEPPED UP WERE MEASURED AS CITIZENS OF THE NATION,

NOT AS WOMEN…THIS WAS A PEOPLE’S WAR, AND EVERYONE WAS IN IT.

 

Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby

 

THEY FOUGHT TOGETHER AS BROTHERS-IN-ARMS.

THEY DIED TOGETHER AND NOW THEY SLEEP SIDE BY SIDE.

TO THEM WE HAVE A SOLEMN OBLIGATION.

 

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

 

Southern Walls

 

BATTLE OF MIDWAY JUNE 4-7, 1942

THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO WIN. YET THEY DID, AND IN DOING SO THEY CHANGED

THE COURSE OF A WAR…EVEN AGAINST THE GREATEST OF ODDS, THERE IS

SOMETHING IN THE HUMAN SPIRIT – A MAGIC BLEND OF SKILL, FAITH AND

VALOR – THAT CAN LIFT MEN FROM CERTAIN DEFEAT TO INCREDIBLE VICTORY.

 

Walter Lord, Author

 

THE WAR’S END

TODAY THE GUNS ARE SILENT. A GREAT TRAGEDY HAS ENDED. A GREAT

VICTORY HAS BEEN WON. THE SKIES NO LONGER RAIN DEATH – THE SEAS

BEAR ONLY COMMERCE – MEN EVERYWHERE WALK UPRIGHT IN THE

SUNLIGHT. THE ENTIRE WORLD IS QUIETLY AT PEACE.

 

General Douglas MacArthur

 

Northern Walls

 

WE ARE DETERMINED THAT BEFORE THE SUN SETS ON THIS TERRIBLE STRUGGLE

OUR FLAG WILL BE RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AS A SYMBOL OF

FREEDOM ON THE ONE HAND AND OF OVERWHELMING FORCE ON THE OTHER.

 

General George C. Marshall

 

D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944

YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON THE GREAT CRUSADE TOWARD

WHICH WE HAVE STRIVEN THESE MANY MONTHS. THE EYES OF

THE WORLD ARE UPON YOU…I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN YOUR

COURAGE, DEVOTION TO DUTY AND SKILL IN BATTLE.

 

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

Western Corners

 

OUR DEBT TO THE HEROIC MEN AND VALIANT WOMEN IN THE SERVICE

OF OUR COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE REPAID. THEY HAVE EARNED OUR

UNDYING GRATITUDE. AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES.

 

President Harry S Truman

 

THE HEROISM OF OUR OWN TROOPS…WAS MATCHED BY THAT

OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE NATIONS THAT FOUGHT BY OUR

SIDE…THEY ABSORBED THE BLOWS…AND THEY SHARED TO THE

FULL IN THE ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMY.

 

President Harry S Truman

 

Southern Fountain Copings

 

CHINA * BURMA * INDIA SOUTHWEST PACIFIC CENTRAL PACIFIC NORTH PACIFIC

 

PEARL HARBOR * WAKE ISLAND * BATAAN CORREGIDOR * CORAL SEA *

MIDWAY * GUADALCANAL * NEW GUINEA * BUNA * TARAWA *

KWAJALEIN * ATTU * SAIPAN TINIAN GUAM * PHILIPPINE SEA * PELELIU *

LEYTE GULF * LUZON * MANILA * IWO JIMA * OKINAWA * JAPAN

 

Northern Fountain Copings

 

NORTH AFRICA SOUTHERN EUROPE WESTERN EUROPE CENTRAL EUROPE

 

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC * MURMANSK RUN * TUNISIA *

SICILY SALERNO ANZIO ROME PO VALLEY * NORMANDY *

ST.LO * AIR WAR IN EUROPE * ALSACE * RHINELAND *

HUERTGEN FOREST * BATTLE OF THE BULGE *

REMAGEN BRIDGE * GERMANY

 

Southern and Northern Arches

 

1941 – 1945 VICTORY ON LAND VICTORY AT SEA VICTORY IN THE AIR

 

Freedom Wall – Field of Gold Stars

 

HERE WE MARK THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#3

Papa:

 

I hope you don't think I was directing my anger at you. :wub: I wasn't by any means. I was angry at the jerk who started this rubbish in the first place, not at you. You were well-intentioned as we all are and I respect that.

 

It is too bad that they used the WWII Memorial as an example. When they do things like this, they do a great disservice to their cause. It makes others skeptical of the things they read that MAY BE TRUE.

 

The Internet is a GREAT TOOL, but it can also be used for the wrong reasons and it's up to us to let the truth be known and stop this before it gets too far. That is why I spent the time to copy the quotes and the speeches. A well educated public is a great weapon.

 

:pdt40:

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#4

Marion,

Thanks for correcting my post, I was also taken in on a post that said Lee Marvin and Capt. Kag-ga-roo (spelled wrong) recieved medals for fighting in South Pacific in WW2

 

papa

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