New Jersey's World War II Memorial Commission Anounces Location and Plan for New Memorial
By Stephen G. Abel, Administrator for Cemeteries, Monuments, Memorials and Museums, NJDMAVA
On August 16, the NJ World War II Memorial Commission approved the working plan for their final report. In letters to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Commission made recommendations that addressed the need, location, design, funding of the construction, and long-term maintenance of the memorial.

The Commission unanimously believes that a Memorial honoring our World War II veterans is needed. They believe that such a Memorial should be incorporated into a veterans’ park that already is being planned for a stateowned piece of land in Jersey City. The Memorial should be designed so that it is an integral part of the park and the Commission should be given the authority and responsibility to approve the final design of the Memorial. They recommend that the Memorial construction be funded through a state appropriation as well as corporate and private donations. The city of Jersey City, via a lease agreement, will provide maintenance of the Memorial.

The Commission also approved the schematic design for the Memorial at a design workshop that also was held on August 16. The designer expects to submit the final design for the Memorial in early January 2002, construction should begin during the fourth quarter of 2002, and the Memorial should be completed by the fourth quarter of 2003 baring any unforeseen circumstances.

The Commission also recommended that the legislature authorize a New Jersey World War II Memorial Fund so that the Commission could accept donations. They also recommended that the Memorial be included to the States Tax Check-off Program.

National WW II Memorial to Begin Construction
Compiled from the The National World War II Memorial Campaign
President Bush signed HR 1696 into law on Memorial Day, clearing the way for construction of the National World War II Memorial. Congress passed the legislation overwhelmingly, approving construction of the memorial on its dedicated Rainbow Pool site on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The American Battle Monuments Commission announced that a $56 million contract to build the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., has been awarded to the joint venture of Tompkins Builders and Grunley-Walsh Construction.

Tompkins Builders, established in Washington, D.C., in 1911, is the third largest general contractor in the Washington Metropolitan area. Grunley Construction and Walsh Construction, both headquartered in Rockville, Md., trace their roots to the Grunley-Walsh Construction Company founded in 1955.

Some of the construction and renovation projects the companies have participated in collectively include the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, and the U.S. Capitol Building. The memorial was authorized by Congress in 1993, the site was approved and dedicated in 1995, and the final architectural design was approved last fall.

On-site construction work is expected to begin this summer. The construction project is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2004.