No. 500 - A GLARING OMISSION FROM THE NEW WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

No. 500

Jim Davidson - NEWSPAPER COLUMN

A GLARING ŒOMISSION¹ FROM THE NEW WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

There are many people in our country who are really upset, and I believe
justifiably so, because of something that was left off the new World War II
Memorial in Washington, D.C.
If you recall, former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and Fed/Ex Chairman Fred Smith
headed up the fund-raising efforts to erect a monument to our nation¹s armed
forces that defeated the Axis powers in World War II, the most costly war in
terms of the loss of life in the history of the world. Unlike most of the
other wars during the course of our history, this was a war where our very
survival was at stake. Rather than elaborate here, I would like to share
selected passages from President Franklin D. Roosevelt¹s Infamy Speech after
the Japanese attacked our military base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
I would hope my young readers would take special note of what President
Roosevelt had to say.
³Yesterday, December 7, 1941, ‹ a date which will live in infamy ‹ the
United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and
air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that
nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its
Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the
Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing
in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague
delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American
message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the
existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or
armed attack.
³It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it
obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks
ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately
sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of
hope for continued peace.²
After more details about the cunning pre-planned action, loss of human
life and property, and targets they had already been determined in the
Pacific, President Roosevelt continues:
³As Commander-In-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all
measures be taken for our defense. Always we will remember the character of
the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this
premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win
through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of Congress and
of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the
uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never
endanger us again. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that
our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With
confidence in our armed forces ‹ with the unbounded determination of our
people ‹ we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God. I ask that the
Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on
Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United
States and the Japanese Empire.²
After the monument was erected, a group of people with the title,
³American Battle Monuments Commission² was charged with the responsibility
of choosing the copy to be inscribed on both sides of the World War II
Memorial. Here is the complete inscription for the Pacific side:

PEARL HARBOR ‹ DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY ‹ NO
MATTER HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE US TO OVERCOME THIS PREMEDITATED INVASION, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN THEIR RIGHTEOUS MIGHT, WILL WIN THROUGH TO ABSOLUTE
VICTORY.

Did you notice what was left off? Well, the four little words that were
left off, and have so many people upset are ³So Help Us God.² Apparently,
the American Battle Monuments Commission has caught so much flak they have
issued a formal statement trying to clarify their reason for leaving this
off. They say the entire speech contains more than 450 words, and with so
little space they had to select words that would capture the essence of what
President Franklin Roosevelt (the only president elected four times in our
nation¹s history) was saying.
Make no mistake, there was plenty of space on the monument for those
four important words that our nation¹s president used to invoke the help of
Almighty God in our nation¹s life-or-death struggle. I suspect they are
going to hear from many patriotic Americans in the coming weeks, months and
years. Since it¹s their monument, I would like to know how the veterans of
World WarII feel about it. Thanks, Clyde, for doing some research for me on
this.
(Jim Davidson is a motivational speaker and syndicated columnist. You
may contact him at 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)