World War II Memorial

Set between the Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool, this memorial commemorates the sixteen million who served in the United States armed forces during the Second World War. Dedicated in 2004, it centers on a sunken plaza with a fountain ringed by 56 granite pillars representing states and territories, plus two triumphal arches for the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. A wall of 4,048 gold stars honors the American dead. Bronze reliefs along the entrance walkway depict scenes from the home front and the battlefield.