LEGISLATIVE  RESOLUTION  urging  the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to pass the federal  legislation  to  establish  a  commission  to
ensure  a  suitable  observance  of the Centennial of World War I and to
designate Memorials to the Veterans of World War I, S253
WHEREAS, The federal legislation would establish a  suitable  observance
of  the  Centennial  of  World  War  I and to designate memorials to the
service of men and women of the United States in World War I; and
  WHEREAS, From 2014 through 2018, the United States and nations  around
the  world  will mark the Centennial of World War I, including the entry
of the United States into the war on April 6, 1917; and
  WHEREAS, Although World War I was at the time called "the war  to  end
all  wars"  in fact the United States committed troops to the defense of
foreign lands three more times in the 20th Century; and
  WHEREAS, More than 4,000,000 men and  women  from  the  United  States
served  in  uniform during World War I, including two future presidents,
Harry S Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower; and
  WHEREAS, The Centennial of World  War  I  offers  an  opportunity  for
people  in  the  United States to learn about and commemorate the sacri-
fices of those veterans who served during this period of time; and
  WHEREAS, Currently, there is no nationally recognized memorial  honor-
ing the service of World War I veterans; and
  WHEREAS,  In  1921,  the  people of Kansas City, Missouri, dedicated a
site in the city for a memorial to the service of Americans in World War
I, a ceremony attended by General John J. Pershing and military  leaders
of Great Britain, France, Belgium and Italy; in 1924, the cornerstone of
the 217-foot Liberty Memorial was laid; on Armistice Day 1926, President
Calvin  Coolidge  delivered  the keynote address at the Memorial's dedi-
cation ceremony; in 1938, the  Memorial  and  surrounding  grounds  were
completed  with  an inscription that reads "In Honor of Those Who Served
in the World War in Defense of Liberty and Our Country"; and
  WHEREAS, The 106th Congress  recognized  the  Liberty  Memorial  as  a
national symbol of World War I; and
  WHEREAS,  The  108th Congress designated the museum at the base of the
Liberty Memorial as "America's National World War I Museum"; the  Museum
preserves  the history of World War I and educates and enlightens people
about this significant event; and
  WHEREAS, The District of Columbia War Memorial was authorized in  1924
by  resolution  of  the 68th Congress and was dedicated on Armistice Day
1931 by President Herbert Hoover; the DC War  Memorial  was  erected  in
memory  of  the  499  residents  of the District of Columbia who died in
World War I; and
  WHEREAS, The DC War Memorial is located on the National Mall in  Wash-
ington, adjacent to the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam memorials;
of these memorials, which now compose a quartet of memorials to the four
wars of the 20th Century, only the DC Memorial is not a national memori-
al; and
  WHEREAS,  The  purpose  of S253 is to establish a commission in Kansas
City, Missouri, to ensure a suitable national observance of the  Centen-
nial  of  World  War  I and to rededicate the Liberty Memorial of Kansas
City and the District of Columbia War  Memorial,  respectively,  as  the
"National World War I Museum and Memorial" and the "District of Columbia
and National World War I Memorial"; now, therefore, be it
  RESOLVED,  That  the  New  York  State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this  Legislative  Body  to  pass
legislation to establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of
the Centennial of World War I, and to designate memorials to the service
of  men  and  women of the United States in World War I, S253; and be it
further
  RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York, and the World War I Memorial Foundation.