Comment by Thayer-D
jimble, I agree it's not the most elegant classicism around. Unfortunately lot of modern classicism doesn't stand up to the old stuff because it's specifically not taught, or for that matter,...
View ArticleComment by Charles Carson
I sometimes feel like too many of our modern memorials and monuments try too hard to be too serious: they're only allowed to be somber and educational (indeed, it seems like there's always a push to...
View ArticleComment by Michael
As others have pointed out, the fountain was built long before the WWII Memorial. It was known as the Rainbow Pool, though it's not clear whether the origin was it had colored lights, or because the...
View ArticleComment by Dave G
It looks like it's safe to wade almost to the first water jets shooting out? No one is going to wade past there but if they do, they can post small signs.
View ArticleComment by Nic
They should just dye the fountain blood red. That'll keep people out and add to the solemnity of the space.
View ArticleComment by Mike
Right on. My WWII vet dad was a pretty solemn guy but, he'd stick his sore dogs in cool water on a hot summer day anywhere! Great commentary about the importance of intention in design along with...
View ArticleComment by The Truth™
Oh it's a real hoot to haul the rugrats down to the ole' WWII memorial on a hot summer day. It's a class act turning a memorial into a splash park to replace the old swimming hole back home. There is...
View ArticleComment by tondo
The reasoning here is along the same lines of allowing kids to sled on the capitol grounds. If people want to wade, in defiance of the wishes of the architects and planners, the failure belongs to the...
View ArticleComment by Froggie
As a retired Navy sailor, someone (I forget who..might've been Tim) asked my opinion on this when the story first broke. In short, I see this as a place of reflection, but given how pissant hot...
View ArticleComment by jobrohobo
This is a very good post. My last visit to this memorial was with an Honor Flight of WWII vets, and the last thing they wanted was to be was quiet and introspective. They all had unbelievable stories...
View ArticleComment by Bob
@ Tondo-- There's a huge difference between kids sledding on Capitol Hill (a good, longstanding neighborhood practice and a last vestige in today's security environment of the Capitol's...
View ArticleComment by Falls Church
Every sign is a failure of leadershipAnd this sign is a failure of design. But, just because the designers failed our veterans doesn't mean the rest of America should fail to give them the respect and...
View ArticleComment by Falls Church
Every sign is a failure of leadership." For example, if you need a sign saying "no smoking," it's because you didn't properly train your sailors not to smoke in that space.Then let's train and educate...
View ArticleComment by Tom A
Why is mournful solemnity the intended way - we WON WW2. We lost relatively few soldiers (compared to every other major combatant at least), basically had no damage on the home front, and the effort...
View ArticleComment by OX4
Lord have mercy, who cares if someone wants to dip their feet? The first issue here is that the NPS treats people like an annoyance to their job of walking around pieces of stone all day. The second...
View ArticleComment by Falls Church
Why is mournful solemnity the intended way - we WON WW2Go ask the committee that represented vets in funding and constructing the memorial. Solemnity was their intention.Also, there are no winners in...
View ArticleComment by tondo
Turning a memorial to those who sacrificed (some, ultimately)into a splash park is something else entirely.The designer did that, by installing splashy fountains playfully throwing cool water in every...
View ArticleComment by Falls Church
As a sidenote, the WW2 memorial isn't the only place where people don't know how to act when there's a design failure (or can't be bothered to show respect): "Show some respect. That's the message...
View ArticleComment by Scott
I agree with the author of the post that an enthusiastic and lively memorial can still honor World War 2 veterans. Take, for example, the World War 1 memorial in Waikiki. It is literally a swimming...
View ArticleComment by jenny
The WWII Memorial fountain is a fountain, not a pool. As such, it has large jets and protruding metal tubing not far in from the edge. Wading in this FOUNTAIN is dangerous. I saw first hand a young...
View ArticleComment by Falls Church
Lord have mercy, who cares if someone wants to dip their feet?...Let's sit back for a moment and consider that putting your feet in the WWII pool is not disrespecting anyone.The committee that...
View ArticleComment by Scott
@ Jenny Yes, that is a very good point. As someone else in the comments suggested, perhaps it's possible to make the fountain that looks like a wading pool safer for wading?
View ArticleComment by Tom Coumaris
Everyone told them this was the worst location for this ironically neo-fascist architecture memorial.
View ArticleComment by Wendy in Washington
The only feature that "works" in this quasi-fascist memorial is the wading pool. It looks like a wading pool; it functions like a wading pool, and it will be used as one. Because we are FREE to do so,...
View ArticleComment by massysett
To me, the natural enthusiasm and activity imbued within the World War II memorial evokes the spirit of relief and jubilation of the end of the war. That's a charitable view of this memorial. Of all...
View ArticleComment by Say What
This quote: "If you need several such signs, and rangers need to constantly enforce it, I'd say that far from discouraging wading, the memorial's design implicitly encourages it." Sounds suspiciously...
View ArticleComment by MLD
Sounds suspiciously like this one: "If a woman needs to say no several times, and police need to constantly enforce rape laws, I'd say that far from discouraging rape, the woman's style of dress...
View ArticleComment by Buzz
"and strict rules violate the spirit of the war against fascism" Could you possibly re-write this, so it conveys MORE childish entitlement? Strict rules aren't fascism, and trying to equate the two is...
View ArticleComment by The Truth™
No pride, decorum, propriety, or decency. It feels good to me, so why do I care about anyone else. This, this more than anything is a sign of society in decline.
View ArticleComment by Hugh
I sent this to two rangers who work at the WWII Memorial and two volunteers in the NPS who handle Honor Flights there. Thanks.
View ArticleComment by Manuel Ochoa
I too am perturbed when I see all the tourists dipping their feet in the fountain and wading around. Then again, I agree that it is a design flaw. The memorials well traveled location and fountains...
View ArticleComment by asffa
"The committee that represents vets that funded and constructed the memorial don't want you putting your feet in the water" Wasn't that fountain there before Bob Dole's committee and weren't people...
View ArticleComment by asffa
Looks to me the original pool was a lot prettier, too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Pool#/media/File:Rainbowpool.jpg
View ArticleComment by David C
We're talking about the Greatest Generation who lived in foxholes and were shot at in the blazing hot North Africa and the freezing cold Bastogne to defend the world's freedom.I think it's relevant...
View ArticleComment by Citizen
How is wading in a pool defiling the memorial or showing disrespect to veterans and the deceased of WWII? They aren't actively stomping down on anyone's graves. The memorial is designed like a wading...
View ArticleComment by The Truth™
Wow that photo shows more than a difference in the fountain. Compare the people in that photo, to the one at the top of this page. I guess that really explains everything.
View ArticleComment by lilloco
4/20 megablunts in arlington cemetery and all war memorials. ultimate form of patriotism.
View ArticleComment by Mike
The wwii memorial is just too damn big, as well as completely unfocused. It's no wonder people wander in there, wonder what the heck to do next, and logically assume that it's a path to a wading pool....
View ArticleComment by George
I agree with the author's premise because the way the monument was designed it wasn't done to remind anyone of the tragedies the men and women who lived through this war faced (both in combat and at...
View ArticleComment by A.C. Robinson
[This comment has been deleted for violating the comment policy.]
View ArticleComment by Nathanael
The Rainbow Pool was designed for wading. It should be used for wading.
View ArticleComment by Maynerd
The first issue here is that the NPS treats people like an annoyance to their job of walking around pieces of stone all day. My Daughter is a Park Ranger at the National Mall (to include the World War...
View ArticleComment by lk
I 100% DISAGREE with this article. Solemn places have feeling and soul. If you did not feel the energy of the lost soldiers during your visit to this memorial, perhaps you are not worthy or are not...
View ArticleComment by Lowell
I just can't read this anymore. When I visited the memorial and found people wading in it I was brought to tears and very angry. I can't fathom the arguments of justification, whether by design,...
View ArticleComment by David C
The lack of consideration for how this could be distracting and offensive to others represents our selfishness. No matter the argument, the memorial was built for them, not for us. Otherwise they...
View ArticleComment by DMZ
Saw a guy jump in and swim laps yesterday (June 26th 2016). I thought it was a protest but then I saw his pal filming him and laughing. It was for likes and thumbs up. Anyway, the mob got pretty pissed...
View ArticleComment by M. Morrell
I don't think the water in these fountains is pool quality so you're taking a big chance wading in that water. This is how diseases and infections get spread. If you want to wade/swim, do it at your...
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