Webb Introduces Legislation to Honor World War I Veterans

Memorial would recognize more than 4 million Americans who served in the Great War

Washington, DC– Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), John Rockefeller (D-WV), and John Thune (R-SD) today introduced a bill that would rededicate the existing District of Columbia War Memorial on the National Mall as the National War I Memorial. The bipartisan “Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act,” S. 2097, is named for Frank Buckles of West Virginia, who, at 108 years of age, is the last surviving American World War I veteran.

“As one whose family citizen-soldier tradition dates back to the Revolutionary War, I believe that it is right and appropriate to properly honor our World War I veterans,” said Senator Webb. “This site is ideally located, on the National Mall, near the memorials honoring those who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The District of Columbia constructed a memorial on the National Mall to honor the 499 District of Columbia residents who died in World War I. The legislation proposed today would rededicate the District of Columbia memorial as the national World War I Memorial. The legislation would also authorize the non-profit World War I Memorial Foundation to make repairs and improvements to the existing memorial, as well as install new sculptures or other commemorations at the memorial.

The bill would not require any taxpayer dollars because the World War I Memorial Foundation would raise the necessary funds through private donations.