The first of the Center's three major productions in 2004 was the "Tribute to a Generation: National World War II Reunion," a four-day free-of-charge event held in   conjunction with the dedication of the National World War II Memorial. From May 27 through May 30, approximately 315,000 people showed up to meet the veterans of World War II, hear their stories, listen to music from the era, learn more about the war, and reunite. Probably the largest gathering of World War II veterans in one place since 1945, and certainly the last such gathering of its kind, the National World War II Reunion not only brought history to the National Mall, it made history as well.

Working in partnership with the American Battle Monuments Commission (the independent, executive branch agency that had been authorized in 1993 to design and construct a World War II Memorial in Washington), the Center had decided early on that the Reunion would be open to all members of the World War II generation: not just those who had served in uniform, but anyone who had contributed to the war effort, whether on the home front or the battle front.

Among the many activities at the Reunion were interviews and conversations with members of the World War II generation; music and dance that had been popular with the troops and on the home front in the 1940s; hands-on activities for younger visitors to help acquaint them with various aspects of the war; an exhibition on the design and construction of the National World War II Memorial; advice from conservators and curators about preserving the material culture of World War II; information from federally chartered organizations on their services for veterans and their families; and displays of military equipment (jeeps, armored cars, tanks, and even an L-4 spotter plane).

The centerpiece of the Reunion was Reunion Hall, a 20,000- square-foot pavilion that served as a gathering place for veterans and their families to socialize, relax, reconnect with their service colleagues, and get acquainted with others. Inside was a "Reunion Wall," designed to help facilitate the reunion process by providing space for veterans (and other interested persons) to post notes for one another on panels that were labeled with the names of individual units of the Armed Services, as well as several of the civilian units that helped support the war effort.

The event coordinators had prepared for the Reunion Wall by ordering 8,000 pushpins and printed cards to be filled in and posted. Within the first two days, it was clear that we had underestimated the demand. Reunion Hall was always filled to capacity with veterans, their friends, and their families, who over the four days posted some 14,000 cards. The original cards are being preserved by the Center, while the written information has been entered into a database (at http://mb.wwiimemorial.com) where the process of reuniting and reconnecting can be continued.

Other ways in which the WWII Reunion will be continued are through the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress, which will preserve the stories and oral histories it collected on-site from 2,865 members of the World War II generation, and through the 30-minute video of Reunion highlights which the Center is compiling from the roughly 80 hours of programs and activities it recorded. Even though World War II veterans are dying at a rate of 1,200 per day, the National World War II Reunion may have helped to ensure that they will not fade away.

More information on the National World War II Reunion.

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