Congressman Ted Poe introduces legislation to re-dedicate the DC War Memorial

Congressman Ted Poe introduces legislation to re-dedicate the DC War Memorial as a national World War I memorial. Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) and Frank W. Buckles, the 107-year-old last surviving American veteran of World War I, held a press conference on September 9, 2008 at the District of Columbia War Memorial to announce the introduction of Congressman Poe's bill to authorize re-dedication of the DC War Memorial as a national World War I memorial. Mr. Buckles is the honorary chairman of the National World War I Memorial Foundation. The event received extensive press coverage from CNN and other media outlets.

National World War I Memorial Foundation formed

In August 2008, friends of the District of Columbia War Memorial from around the country incorporated the World War I Memorial Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to to raise funds for the restoration of the DC War Memorial, and to sponsor and raise funds for the re-dedication of that site as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial. The honorary chairman of the Foundation is Frank Buckles of West Virginia, the 107-year-old last surviving American veteran of World War I. The Foundation's president is David DeJonge, a Michigan photographer who for the past several years has traveled the world photographing the last survivors of the "Great War."