Who has the right to change history?

[Avodah]

I received an email the other day that disturbed me very much and continues to do so. It didn't make me angry so much as it broke my heart. As christians there must be something we can do to prevent this from happening again or even to change this. I don't know, just a thought.

Please read and tell me what you think.

Subject: Who has the right to change history?

Date: 01/14/05

I am sending this to all of you and especially the young who may not know! I wish somehow we could rectify this, but how to do it I don't know.

WWII Memorial Omission from the New WWII 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 unbounding 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????

People need to know before everyone forgets. People today are trying to change the history of America by leaving God out of it, but the truth is, God has been a part of the nation, since the beginning. He still wants to be.

Paul Schlipp

Amateur Radio Station "KORWU"

[Leonard]

The inevitable bitter fruit of secular government is dissimulation.

[RustyAngeL]

I don't know why they changed it kraz but your right it breaks my heart too. How sad.

[Joe Christian]

If I had to guess, everyone was so excited about getting the Memorial built, Those who could manage it left it out. I think there could be a chance of getting it changed, it hasn't been there too long. Our WW2 vets should know about this, lots of them if it were pointed out, would want it stated correctly. I would sign any petition to get the whole speech in, as I gladly donated to the cause to build the Memorial itself.

[Guest yod]

seems like I heard that this was an urban myth....

[Avodah]

seems like I heard that this was an urban myth....

Yod, if it is please forgive me for acting in hast.

I received it in an email and was distressed, didn't even check into seeing if it was so.

I will check it out and see what I can find out.

[Avodah]

Yod, I hate to say it, but it's not urban myth. Found this at

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?pa...page=factsheets

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

[Guest yod]

click here for the report at Snopes.com

[Avodah]

Thank you Yod!!

I feel like an idiot. But...at least I'm passionate about things I belive hey?

Lord bless you!!!

[nebula]

I had to pay $10 for his admission,  which I gladly did.

Huh?

I was there last Thanksgiving weekend. There was no ticket booth. My friend and I just walked right in. The only "obstacle" was the construction going on around the Washington Monument across the street from it.

The WWII Memorial is like the Viet Nam Memorial - outdoor, open, and free.

Where did you have to pay this $10?

  But he was unable to walk to where the actual memorial was from the parking lot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What parking lot? There's a parking lot in the area?

Even still, if your father can't walk, shouldn't you be able to transport his wheelchair in your trunk? Or how else does he get around?

There were people driving carts for the handicapped.

Is that a new feature at the DC Mall? I've never seen this before.