History Archives

“In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.” These words are engraved above the statute of the president who save the Union, Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln Memorial is an enduring symbol of unity, strength and wisdom.

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Exterior Features of the Lincoln Memorial

Does the memorial look familiar? It should and not just because we’ve all grown up with it. It was model after the Parthenon in Athens which graced the cover of most of our history books.

Since the memorial was to a man who defended democracy then the design should echo the birthplace of democracy. The Memorial is 190 foot long, 120 foot wide, 99 foot tall constructed of marble.

There are 58 steps on the memorial and 87 steps from the memorial to the reflecting pool. There is an elevator for those who are not up to navigating that many steps. It was working when I was there.

The steps of the Lincoln Memorial have been witness to many great events and demonstrations over the past 100 years including he “I have a Dream” speech by Dr. King. The steps start at the edge of the reflecting pool on the National Mall. They rise to a plaza that was once a road and then continue on through a series of platforms to the entrance.

Columns

The 36 Doric columns that surround the Memorial represent each of the states that existed at the time of Lincoln’s death.

Frieze

Above the colonnade inscribed on the frieze are the names of 36 states and the dates in which they entered the Union. Their names are separated by double wreath medallions in bas-relief.

Inside the Lincoln Memorial

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There are 3 chambers inside the memorial, north, south and central. The north and south side chambers contain the words of of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and his Gettysburg Address carved into the marble. Between the north and south chambers is the central hall containing the solitary Statue of Lincoln sitting in contemplation. Look closely at Lincoln’s hands. Proponents of ASL say he is signing and that the position of his fingers form A and L.

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The Views and Location on the National Mall

Standing in front of the entrance you will be looking out over the reflecting pool at the Washington Monument.

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Step to the side and look again, there is the dome of the Capitol building peeking from behind the Washington Monument

One of the most well known of the monuments, the Lincoln Memorial does not fade with familiarity. It is still a beautiful memorial to our 16th President who gave all to see the new nation stayed intact.

https://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm

Leaving the Martin Luther King Memorial we thought we were heading to the Lincoln memorial but Joey had another stop in mind for us first. After pouring out of the tour bus, we crossed a busy street while Joey stopped traffic only to approach a memorial of individual statues.

The Forgotten War

This is the Korean War Memorial. Often considered the “Forgotten War” Joey was determined that we would not “forget” to visit the memorial. These soldiers suffered terribly, spent much time unprepared, untrained for combat and under supplied. Even so, they managed to delay the advance of the North Korean forces until reinforcements could arrive.

Officially the Korean War was not a war, it was a “police action”, one of the early attempts by the United Nations to provide a stabilizing influence on the affairs of the world.

The Symbolism at the Monument

The monument is hard for me to describe. I was struck by the lifelike statues of the soldiers and as Joey described the conditions the servicemen endured , my heart ached.

The first thing that caught my attention were the ghostly statues. Done in stainless steel, their faces clearly visible, you can see the hardship on each visage. These 19 servicemen are surrounded by granite boulders and juniper bushes representing the harsh environment of Korea.

The figures represent a platoon on patrol. 14 figures represent the US Army, 3 represent the US Marines, 1 is a Navy corpsman, and one is an Air Force Forward Air Observer. They are dressed in full combat gear.

The Wall

A highly polished wall of “academy black” granite stands beside the field of Soldiers. More than 2,500 images representing the land, sea, and air troops who supported those who fought in the war are sandblasted onto the wall. When the light is right, the images of the soldiers reflect on the wall. There now appears to be 38 soldiers. The number 38 represents 38 months, and it is also representing the 38 parallel that separated the North and South Korea.

Pool of Remembrance

A visit to the memorial is not complete without a look at the Pool of Remembrance. This shallow pool is artistically surrounded by trees for the most visually pleasing reflections. Inscriptions list soldiers killed, wounded, missing in action and held as prisoner during the Korean War.

Conclusion

A nearby plaque is inscribed: “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.”

Organized by the National Park Service, students of Tuscarora High School in Frederick County Maryland and students of CheongShim International Academy in the Republic of Korea interviewed Korean War veterans in their respective countries. The students shared these interviews with each other through the internet. The letters are moving and enlightening. I encourage you to take a moment to read some of these memories.

https://www.nps.gov/kowa/learn/historyculture/index.htm