CFA 15/OCT/15-1

Location

West Potomac Park, 17th Street and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC
United States

Owner
National Park Service
Property
World War II Memorial
Description
Install plaque with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's D-Day prayer
Review Type
Site Selection

Letter

Dear Mr. Vogel:

In its meeting of 15 October, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a site selection study for the location of a new plaque at the World War II Memorial to be inscribed with the prayer delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt by radio on D-Day. The Commission approved siting the plaque at the memorial’s Circle of Remembrance, consistent with the preference of the National Park Service.

In their general support for this location, the Commission members also observed that the addition of a large tablet bearing the text of a public address may be incompatible with the intended purpose of private contemplation at the Circle of Remembrance. They commented on the possible difficulty of finding a successful location for a large plaque associated with the Circle; it may become evident through the design process that another site within the memorial precinct is more appropriate.

As always, the staff is available to assist you with the development of the design.

Sincerely,

/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary

Robert Vogel, Regional Director
National Park Service, National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242

cc: Sheila Brady, Oehme, van Sweden & Associates
Holly Rotondi, Friends of the National World War II Memorial