World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial facts for kids
The World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial is a special place in Springfield, Illinois, that honors people from Illinois who served in World War II. It also remembers the families who lost loved ones during the war. World War II was a huge global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Almost a million people from Illinois, about 987,000, joined the military during this time. Sadly, 22,000 of them gave their lives.
This memorial helps us remember their bravery and sacrifice. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery, which is on the north side of Springfield, the capital city of Illinois.
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What is the Illinois WWII Memorial?
The memorial is a large art display built to help people remember the global reach of World War II. It was planned starting in 1999 and officially opened in 2004.
The Giant Globe
At the center of the memorial is a huge white globe. This globe weighs 22 tons (that's about 20,000 kilograms!) and is 12 feet (about 3.5 meters) wide. The globe shows how the war affected the entire world, not just one country.
Walls of History
Around the globe, there are several black granite walls. These walls have the names of many important battles and campaigns from World War II carved into them. Small stainless steel buttons are placed on the globe itself. These buttons show exactly where each of those battles happened around the world.
Remembering Our Heroes
Even today, people gather at the memorial to honor the veterans of World War II. Many of these veterans are now very old, so these gatherings are very special.
The people who manage the memorial also work to collect stories from the veterans who are still alive. These are called "oral memories." They want to make sure these important stories are never forgotten. Sometimes, families who are looking for information about relatives who went missing during the war also contact the memorial's team for help.
Who Takes Care of the Memorial?
The World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial is officially a historic site of the Illinois Historic Preservation Division. However, it is mainly looked after by the staff of Oak Ridge Cemetery and a special group of people called the Memorial's independent governing board. They all work together to keep this important place beautiful and respectful.
