This was posted on my site today and evidently has been going around the Internet. I am posting this and then my follow up to this. I just thought I'd try and get the truth out there. Here is the erroneous post: ------------------- : A terrible omission The Omission From the New W.W.II Memorial Today I went to visit the new World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. I got an unexpected history lesson. Since I'm a baby boomer, I was one of the youngest in the crowd. Most were the age of my parents, veterans of "the greatest war" with their families. It was a beautiful day, and people were smiling and happy to be there. Hundreds of us milled around the memorial, reading the inspiring words of Ike and Truman that are engraved there. On the Pacific side of the memorial, a group of us gathered to read the words President Roosevelt used to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor: "Yesterday, December 7, 1941-- a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked." One woman read the words aloud: " With confidence in our armed forces, with the un bounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph." But as she read, she was suddenly angry. "Wait a minute," she said. "They left out the end of the quote. They left out the most important part. Roosevelt said: "so help us God." "You're probably right," her husband said. "We're not supposed to say things like that now." "I know I'm right," she insisted. "I remember the speech" The two shook their heads sadly and walked away. Listening to their conversation, I thought to myself, "Well, it has been 50 years. She's probably forgotten." But she was right. I went home and pulled out the book my book club is reading. It's "Flags of Our Fathers" by James Bradley. It's all about Iwo Jima. I haven't gotten too far in the book. It's tough to read because it's ! a graphic description of the battles in the Pacific. But right there it was on page 58. Roosevelt's speech to the nation It ends "so help us God." The people who edited out that part of the speech when they engraved it on the memorial could have fooled me. I was born after the war. But they couldn't fool the people who were there. Roosevelt's words are engraved on their hearts. WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE WORDS OF HISTORY? -------------------- Here is my reply to this post. It is quite lengthy so be prepared to read: Actually in all fairness to the WWII Memorial I have to tell everyone that this IS NOT TRUE. I know many people are angry over the very few in this country who are trying to take God out, but in this case they didn't. It wasn't possible to include his entire speech. In many cases, as with this one, they used part of his speech as they have over and over during the last 60 years. The inscription at the memorial is as follows: PEARL HARBOR DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY…NO MATTER HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE US TO OVERCOME THIS PREMEDITATED INVASION, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN THEIR RIGHTEOUS MIGHT, WILL WIN THROUGH TO ABSOLUTE VICTORY. President Franklin D. Roosevelt Now here is the speech in its entirety. As you can see it is quite lengthy: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 8, 1941 Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire." ----------------------------------------------------------- Below are all the inscriptions from the WWII MEMORIAL National World War II Memorial Inscriptions The following inscriptions are inscribed in the National World War II Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The inscriptions are presented by location. Announcement Stone HERE IN THE PRESENCE OF WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN, ONE THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY FATHER AND THE OTHER THE NINETEENTH CENTURY PRESERVER OF OUR NATION, WE HONOR THOSE TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICANS WHO TOOK UP THE STRUGGLE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND MADE THE SACRIFICES TO PERPETUATE THE GIFT OUR FOREFATHERS ENTRUSTED TO US: A NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. Flagpoles AMERICANS CAME TO LIBERATE, NOT TO CONQUER, TO RESTORE FREEDOM AND TO END TYRANNY Eastern Corners PEARL HARBOR DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY…NO MATTER HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE US TO OVERCOME THIS PREMEDITATED INVASION, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN THEIR RIGHTEOUS MIGHT, WILL WIN THROUGH TO ABSOLUTE VICTORY. President Franklin D. Roosevelt THEY HAVE GIVEN THEIR SONS TO THE MILITARY SERVICES. THEY HAVE STOKED THE FURNACES AND HURRIED THE FACTORY WHEELS. THEY HAVE MADE THE PLANES AND WELDED THE TANKS, RIVETED THE SHIPS AND ROLLED THE SHELLS. President Franklin D. Roosevelt WOMEN WHO STEPPED UP WERE MEASURED AS CITIZENS OF THE NATION, NOT AS WOMEN…THIS WAS A PEOPLE’S WAR, AND EVERYONE WAS IN IT. Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby THEY FOUGHT TOGETHER AS BROTHERS-IN-ARMS. THEY DIED TOGETHER AND NOW THEY SLEEP SIDE BY SIDE. TO THEM WE HAVE A SOLEMN OBLIGATION. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Southern Walls BATTLE OF MIDWAY JUNE 4-7, 1942 THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO WIN. YET THEY DID, AND IN DOING SO THEY CHANGED THE COURSE OF A WAR…EVEN AGAINST THE GREATEST OF ODDS, THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE HUMAN SPIRIT – A MAGIC BLEND OF SKILL, FAITH AND VALOR – THAT CAN LIFT MEN FROM CERTAIN DEFEAT TO INCREDIBLE VICTORY. Walter Lord, Author THE WAR’S END TODAY THE GUNS ARE SILENT. A GREAT TRAGEDY HAS ENDED. A GREAT VICTORY HAS BEEN WON. THE SKIES NO LONGER RAIN DEATH – THE SEAS BEAR ONLY COMMERCE – MEN EVERYWHERE WALK UPRIGHT IN THE SUNLIGHT. THE ENTIRE WORLD IS QUIETLY AT PEACE. General Douglas MacArthur Northern Walls WE ARE DETERMINED THAT BEFORE THE SUN SETS ON THIS TERRIBLE STRUGGLE OUR FLAG WILL BE RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM ON THE ONE HAND AND OF OVERWHELMING FORCE ON THE OTHER. General George C. Marshall D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944 YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON THE GREAT CRUSADE TOWARD WHICH WE HAVE STRIVEN THESE MANY MONTHS. THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE UPON YOU…I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN YOUR COURAGE, DEVOTION TO DUTY AND SKILL IN BATTLE. General Dwight D. Eisenhower Western Corners OUR DEBT TO THE HEROIC MEN AND VALIANT WOMEN IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE REPAID. THEY HAVE EARNED OUR UNDYING GRATITUDE. AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES. President Harry S Truman THE HEROISM OF OUR OWN TROOPS…WAS MATCHED BY THAT OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE NATIONS THAT FOUGHT BY OUR SIDE…THEY ABSORBED THE BLOWS…AND THEY SHARED TO THE FULL IN THE ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMY. President Harry S Truman Southern Fountain Copings CHINA * BURMA * INDIA SOUTHWEST PACIFIC CENTRAL PACIFIC NORTH PACIFIC PEARL HARBOR * WAKE ISLAND * BATAAN CORREGIDOR * CORAL SEA * MIDWAY * GUADALCANAL * NEW GUINEA * BUNA * TARAWA * KWAJALEIN * ATTU * SAIPAN TINIAN GUAM * PHILIPPINE SEA * PELELIU * LEYTE GULF * LUZON * MANILA * IWO JIMA * OKINAWA * JAPAN Northern Fountain Copings NORTH AFRICA SOUTHERN EUROPE WESTERN EUROPE CENTRAL EUROPE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC * MURMANSK RUN * TUNISIA * SICILY SALERNO ANZIO ROME PO VALLEY * NORMANDY * ST.LO * AIR WAR IN EUROPE * ALSACE * RHINELAND * HUERTGEN FOREST * BATTLE OF THE BULGE * REMAGEN BRIDGE * GERMANY Southern and Northern Arches 1941 – 1945 VICTORY ON LAND VICTORY AT SEA VICTORY IN THE AIR Freedom Wall – Field of Gold Stars HERE WE MARK THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
At least they didn't repeat the lnog discredited story about Colin Kelly sinking the Japanese battleship Haruna by flying his B-17 down her smokestack on December 10, 1941. She actually was finally bottomed out in Kure Harbor in July, 1945, after a lengthy war career. But thank you for posting that...it's important to correct these stupid stories.
We could start a whole new category for discredited stories and never run out of material. :P This one really incensed me and it was hard to ignore. I keep telling people, "Do you homework before you spread this kind of stuff around." But that takes too much work. It is much easier just to pass it along and take the written word for granted. Research takes too much time. I love the one you quoted above. That's a classic!
Originally posted by Walts Daughter@Feb 10 2005, 11:31 AM We could start a whole new category for discredited stories and never run out of material. :P This one really incensed me and it was hard to ignore. I keep telling people, "Do you homework before you spread this kind of stuff around." But that takes too much work. It is much easier just to pass it along and take the written word for granted. Research takes too much time. I love the one you quoted above. That's a classic! [post=31377]Quoted post[/post] Myths and urban legends survive because they are neat, usually have snappy, tight endings, reinforce preconceived notions, and either preach moral lessons or defame handy whipping boys. Target is still battling e-mails that claim it does not support veterans. Procter & Gamble is still accused of giving money to the Church of Satan. The University of Idaho is still accused of supporting an anti-American demonstration on September 12, 2001. And Holocaust deniers still have web sites that insist that Jews practice ritual murder and are the spawn of Satan. Truth is always messier. The Colin Kelly story has a good punchline. Colin Kelly, Jr. had a son, Colin Kelly III, and when Colin Kelly Jr. and his B-17 went down over the Philippines – what really happened as that Colin kept the plane straight and level over his base so the crew could bail out – FDR wrote a letter to “the president in 1956” asking him to admit Colin Kelly III to West Point without needing to take the test. However, when Colin Kelly III came up for West Point in 1956, he took the test anyway – and got in.
The Colin Kelly story has a good punchline. Colin Kelly, Jr. had a son, Colin Kelly III, and when Colin Kelly Jr. and his B-17 went down over the Philippines – what really happened as that Colin kept the plane straight and level over his base so the crew could bail out – FDR wrote a letter to “the president in 1956” asking him to admit Colin Kelly III to West Point without needing to take the test. However, when Colin Kelly III came up for West Point in 1956, he took the test anyway – and got in. What a come back huh? He got in on his own merits. Atta boy! And you are absolutely correct about the Urban Legends. They sound so close to the truth that they wind up snagging in 1000's of believers. Hook, line and sinker! They persist and some other corporation takes over the tale and becomes the almighty satan. Tis' human nature my friend. But that's why they need people like us to curtail the bull. I plan on sending you a PM later today in regards to another thread I read on this site pertaining to you and your site and the houndings you've been receiving. I think we might have a few things to talk about. Till later...
