Norton Introduces Bill in Recognition of D.C. WWI Veterans and in Support of a National WWI Memorial

Norton Introduces Resolution in Recognition of D.C. WWI Veterans Who Died Without the Home Rule and in Support of a National World War I Memorial

June 22, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will introduce a resolution on Thursday to ensure that the District of Columbia War Memorial remains a memorial dedicated solely to the D.C. residents who served in World War I (WWI), and that a suitable, separate location for a memorial dedicated to all Americans who served in WWI be determined. Norton chose to introduce the resolution on the day the full House Appropriations Committee marks up the fiscal year 2012 D.C. Appropriations bill during a period of unprecedented attacks on the city's home-rule rights, including the commemoration of the residents who not only fought and died without a vote, but also without any democratic local government. The District won the right to elect a mayor and city council to govern its local affairs only in 1973.

"The District of Columbia War Memorial is dedicated to the more than 26,000 District of Columbia residents who served our country in World War I, including 499 of whom died, while denied all the rights afforded other soldiers-votes in the House and Senate, a democratic local government, and the right to vote for the President of the United States," said Norton. "The brave men and women of World War I deserve national recognition for their unique contributions to our country, like the veterans of our other wars, but not at the expense of the legacy of other veterans, and certainly not at the expense of District World War I veterans."

Norton noted that the National Park Service, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, and the American Battle Monuments Commission have specifically determined that adding a new national WWI memorial in the vicinity of the District of Columbia War Memorial or re-designating the D.C. War Memorial as a national WWI memorial, as pending legislation would do, would violate the Commemorative Works Act. Norton said that she is grateful to her Democratic and Republican colleagues who have taken up the cause of WWI veterans and wants to work closely with Democrats on a suitable WWI memorial.