Whereas the year 2014 marks the centennial of World War I,
often referred to as the Great War;
Whereas the National Mall is home to national memorials
for major conflicts involving the United States during the 20th century,
including the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, but is not home to a national World War I
Memorial;
Whereas the District of Columbia War Memorial, managed by
the National Park Service, was dedicated to the more than 26,000 residents of
the District of Columbia who, without a vote in Congress, served bravely in
World War I, including 499 who were killed;
Whereas a national memorial dedicated to all Americans who
served in World War I should be located in the Nation’s capital, in a
well-traveled area commensurate with the importance of World War I in the
history of the United States;
Whereas members of Congress and other Americans desire to
establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the World War I
centennial; and
Whereas the National Park Service, the National Capital
Memorial Advisory Commission, and the American Battle Monuments Commission have
specifically determined that either adding a new national World War I memorial
in the vicinity of the District of Columbia War Memorial or re-designating the
District of Columbia War Memorial as a National World War I Memorial would
violate chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the
Commemorative Works Act
): Now, therefore,
be it
That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that—
(1)the District of Columbia War Memorial
should remain a memorial dedicated solely to the residents of the District of
Columbia who served in World War I; and
(2)a Congressionally authorized study or
commission should determine a proper location for a national memorial dedicated
to all Americans who served in World War I.