Opinion | Greatest Generation Coin will help preserve World War II Memorial for future generations – By Rep. Marcy Kaptur (Roll Call) / Feb 22, 2024
D.C. structure is beginning to show signs of wear and tear
In February of 1987, while at an annual fish fry in Jerusalem Township, Ohio, one of my constituents asked a very pointed question which had a profound impact on the landscape of our nation’s capital and on how we honor the legacy of the “Greatest Generation.”
A local postal carrier and World War II veteran named Roger Durbin exclaimed, “Congresswoman, why is there no memorial for the veterans of World War II?” I listened and responded inquisitively — I was pretty sure there was and it was in Arlington, Va., called the Iwo Jima Memorial. With eyes filled with an unwavering resolve, Durbin told me I was wrong and said that it was the United States Marine Corps Memorial, and was only a tribute to one battle, on one front of the war.
When I checked with the Smithsonian on his assertion, they politely informed me that Durbin was indeed correct — there was no memorial for veterans of World War II. In that moment, I was struck by the weight of his inquiry — I could not believe it. How could we not have a national memorial for the most unselfish generation who sacrificed so much for our nation and the world? And so, with determination in my heart, I set out on a mission to right that profound injustice.
