National Park Service plans for restoration of the DC War Memorial

The National Park Service has issued a "preliminary preferred alternative plan" for improvements to the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington. This planning document, which will still go through public review and comment as well as an environmental impact study, outlines the Park Service's plans for near- and long-term development of the Mall. The plan, which will likely be finalized in late 2009, includes as one of its elements the rehabilitation of the DC War Memorial.

See the NPS preliminary plan.

Frank Buckles, last surviving American veteran of World War I, turns 108

Frank W. Buckles, of Charles Town, West Virginia, turned 108 on February 1. Mr. Buckles is the honorary chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation, and the last surviving American veteran of the Great War. As the years went on, Mr. Buckles said, "I realized I'd be one of the last, but I never thought I'd be the last." He added, "Of course, if it has to be somebody, it might as well be me." Mr. Buckles was honored at the White House and the Pentagon last year, and has been advocating for the re-dedication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a national World War I memorial.

Houston schoolchildren to support restoration and preservation of the DC War Memorial

Creekwood Middle School in Houston, Texas, and Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) will host Foundation president David DeJonge and his exhibit of photographs of the world's last survivors of World War I on February 9, 2009. The school has taken on support for the restoration and preservation of the District of Columbia War Memorial as this year's service learning project. The event marks the beginning of a national tour of David DeJonge's photographs. The students will engage in cross-curricular studies of World War I and will sell World War I donor tags to raise money and awareness concerning preservation of the World War I monument. See the following link for more information:

Creekwood Middle School's 2009 Service Learning Project on the World War One Memorial Exhibit

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."