[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7243 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7243

To designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in 
      Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 2, 2008

 Mr. Cleaver introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in 
      Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF THE LIBERTY MEMORIAL AT THE NATIONAL WORLD 
              WAR I MUSEUM IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AS THE NATIONAL 
              WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Although more than 4,000,000 Americans served in World 
        War I, there is no nationally recognized memorial honoring the 
        service of such Americans in that war.
            (2) In 1919, the people of Kansas City, Missouri, expressed 
        an outpouring of support and raised more than $2,000,000 in two 
        weeks for a memorial to the service of Americans in World War 
        I. That fundraising was an accomplishment unparalleled by any 
        other city in the United States irrespective of population and 
        reflected the passion of public opinion about World War I, 
        which had so recently ended.
            (3) Following the drive, a national architectural 
        competition was held by the American Institute of Architects 
        for designs for a memorial to the service of Americans in World 
        War I, and the competition yielded a design by architect H. Van 
        Buren Magonigle.
            (4) On November 1, 1921, more than 100,000 people witnessed 
        the dedication of the site for the Liberty Memorial in Kansas 
        City, Missouri. That dedication marked the only time in history 
        that the five allied military leaders present, Lieutenant 
        General Baron Jacques of Belgium, General Armando Diaz of 
        Italy, Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France, General John J. 
        Pershing of the United States, and Admiral Lord Earl Beatty of 
        Great Britain, were together at one place.
            (5) General Pershing, a native of Missouri and the 
        commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, 
        noted at the November 1, 1921, dedication that ``[t]he people 
        of Kansas City, Missouri, are deeply proud of the beautiful 
        memorial, erected in tribute to the patriotism, the gallant 
        achievements, and the heroic sacrifices of their sons and 
        daughters who served in our country's armed forces during the 
        World War. It symbolized their grateful appreciation of duty 
        well done, and appreciation which I share, because I know so 
        well how richly it is merited''.
            (6) During an Armistice Day ceremony in 1924, President 
        Calvin Coolidge marked the beginning of a three-year 
        construction project for the Liberty Memorial by the laying of 
        the cornerstone of the memorial.
            (7) The 217-foot Liberty Memorial Tower has an inscription 
        that reads ``In Honor of Those Who Served in the World War in 
        Defense of Liberty and Our Country'' as well as four stone 
        ``Guardian Spirits'' representing courage, honor, patriotism, 
        and sacrifice, which rise above the observation deck, making 
        the Liberty Memorial a noble tribute to all who served in World 
        War I.
            (8) During a rededication for the Liberty Memorial in 1961, 
        World War I veterans and former Presidents Harry S. Truman and 
        Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized the memorial as a constant 
        reminder of the sacrifices during World War I and the progress 
        that followed.
            (9) The 106th Congress recognized the Liberty Memorial as a 
        national symbol of World War I.
            (10) The 108th Congress designated the museum at the base 
        of the Liberty Memorial as ``America's National World War I 
        Museum''.
            (11) The National World War I Museum is the only public 
        museum in the United States specifically dedicated to the 
        history of World War I.
            (12) The National World War I Museum is known throughout 
        the world as a major center of World War I remembrance.
    (b) Designation.--The Liberty Memorial at the National World War I 
Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby designated as the ``National 
World War I Memorial''.
                                 <all>