naator: the monuments d memorials of the natios capital are masterworks ofnduring power and grace. they celebrate the mytc struggles and triumphs of ourounding, bestowomage on the everyday hees of focious war, and give expression to magnificent pirations and ideals. these morials define the sline

of the nation's capital, but their impoance radiates far beyd marble, brze, and steel. join us as wexplore the compelling sries and coinuing significance memorials on theweta guide. shinon mument is the centerpce of t capital city's "monental magnificence." by law, the shington monument is the tallest structure in the district of columbi- 555 feet of white myland marble. it's unquestionably the ci's, and one of the nion's, definingandmarks. the controversial egtian obelisk

was a design borwed from antiquity. man: the architect, robert mills, had in minfor a great circular lonnade around the base. that was never realid. buthe sheer abstractness, the size, the power of theonument today speaks voles. narrator: the monument ishe gathering place for thcountry's celebrations.. demonsations... festivals. it's arand avenue and our nation "backyard." nstruction on the wasngton monument ben in 1848, but was left unfinisd cause of financial troubles and political infighti. work resumed aftethe civil war, but the new marble, alough from the same quarry, s slightly different color-- a demarcation still evident today. when the monumt was finally dedicad in 1885, it was the tallest buildin in the world.

spectacular views still awt from t lookout station at t top of the monument: the catol building... the whithouse... the jeffson memorial... the lincn memorial. ving west from the whington monument, wencounter one of the cital's newest memorials-- the world r ii memorial. acing a war memorial between thlincoln memorial and e washington monument was controversial. longstreth: some peoe believe that having that ont and center on the mall sent the wrong message. others, quitto the contrary, said world war iwas one of the defing moments in not only the 20 century, but in the history of modern civilization.

narrat: the memorial is masve in scop as was theonflict. 56 pilla represent all the stes and territories ofhe time. o heroic arches recall t pacific and atlantic theatres of war. on freedomall are 4,000 gold srs, each oneepresenting 100 americankilled in action. freditzer fought in the nmandy invasion and first visited e memorial in 2006. zitzer: was a world-wide deal, and you get a ance to put it in one gre setting like this, it bngs the whole picturtogether. for the guys who were ere and saw their frnds die and survived it, it's a tremendoumemorial.

it was really tough experience persally going through because itid bring back a lot memories. it's quite a thrill to be here. narrator: the world war ii memorl couldn't bmore different from the etnam veterans memorial, whiclies embedded in the grod, just to its west. first, the stardesign by young architecstudent maya lin was high controversial: twangular wedges of bla polished marble inscrid with over 58,000 names of soldiers killed or missing in action, row up rows of names nearly00 feet long. once a month bore dawn, april through tober,

veterans and otherolunteers gather to sh "the wall." man: when wwash the wall, we're keeping house, tellinthem that, "everything's okay, we're here, wee watching after you, 'll never forget you." man: it gives me healing feeling to come wn and wash the wall. i lost six guys fr my platoon, and i always sp and say hello to them. there's term called "wall mac." sometimes you're loong for a name, and 's almost as if light shines on the me and it appears. narror: in addition to t wall, a bronze statue ofhree soldiers honors all vietnam veterans. the vietnam women's merial pays tribute to womewho served and th"in memory" plaque

honors tse still dying from t effects of the war. today the vietnam terans memorial is one of the mostisited in the nation'capital. the we wall of the vietnam vetans memorial pots in the direction the lincoln memorial, just steps away. early proposed digns and locations for thmemorial reflect growing esteem for lincoln as savior of the uni after the emanpation and assassinatn. the mcmillan commission, which ovsaw consuction on the mall ar the turn of the 2h century, deemed the lincoln memoria the only one worthy to lie on the same as with the washington nument and the capito the push for a lincoln morial began days after his sassination, but it wasn't mpleted until after rld war i, in 192

grim irony attended the dication to the gat emancipator-- african american dignitaries were seated separately. lincoln's mastic statue was sculpted daniel chester french from 28 sepate pieces of white grgian marble. the statueits balanced in the massi temple. lincoln's left hand is clencd in determination and sength. the right ha lies relaxed, ur reflecti his wise and thoughtfulature. the moral authity evoked by lincol has made hisemorial a gathering ace for the civil rights movemen ♪ land where fathers died narrator: on easter sund in 1939, mariannderson sang to an auence of 70,000

ter the daughters ofhe american revolution refused to all a person of color to sg at constitution hall. ♪ we shalovercome... narrator: in 1963, 100ears after the ttysburg address, dr. martin lutheking, jr. and other civirights leaders marched washington for jobsnd freedom. e legacy of the memorial was forever changed. king: i think this mar will go down as one of the eatest, if not the gatest, demonstrations for freed and human dignity ever held in the united stat. narrator: john lew, then chairman of the student nonviolent coordinating committee, and now a congressn from grgia, spoke minus before king gave his fous "i hava dream" speech. lewis: i ft like i was standingn sacred ground. that wasy first time standingn those steps.

i was dely inspired to be able to stand the with dr. king and hers and witness the a of humanity sayingo america, "wmust change and create a re perfect union." narratorthe grandeur of the linco memorial stands in contrast to theribute to vetans of america's "footten war." approaching the korean war veterans memorial, visitors are unexpeedly immersed in the drama of conflict and if oneooks at this column sculptures, moving towards thamerican colors flying from th flagpole, it's as if a generation is walking towards freedom narrator: tired colonel williae. weber lost an arm and a leg in the korean war. buhe still fights for his llow soldiers

chairman of the korean war veterans memorial fountion. the memorialas dedicated in 1995. ber: it wasn't as if we were a nation mobilized, as we were ding world war ii, or the te length of vietnam. so t korean war sort of falls through the cracks and yet, in termof the foreign wars ameri has fought and in terms of peentage of casualties, it was the bloodie war the american armed forces ever fought. in world war i the ratio was one in2, in vietnam one in 15 and in korea, one out of ne. narrat: the 19 soldiers reesent a squad onatrol. their reflections on the wl raise the number t38-- symbolic of the 38th parall, e fateful boundary line crossed by communist force

world war ii veteran frangaylord sculpted the faces to reflect the ethnic dirsity of those who sved. colonel weber was the model for the face of theast soldier to the rht. weber: wwanted those faces toeflect fatigue, pain frustration, and somehow a dere, "i want to go ho." narrator etched in the black grane wall are thousands faces-- ages of those who supported the ground troops. ber: we like to think th that wall was america's ntelpiece. we wanted themo say, "hey, that's m" "that's dad," "that was my hband," "that was myrother." what wld i like people to take ay from viewing this memoria the americ soldiers who foughthat war ought to be remembered their people and in history

east of e korean war veteransemorial and tuckedway in a grove of taltrees is an elegant but ofn overlooked memorial dedicated to another "forgotten war." the distct of columbia world r i memorial was dedicated in 1931 with great civic fanfare and a rare apprance by john philipousa. [band playing] it was the first memorial on the mall to list all c. war dead, regardless of gender, class, or race. today, this ttle doric temple is a sdy spot for quie thoughtful meditation. the national mall and tidal basin have fewemaining open areas. but here, in a placef rare honor, is a plaque designatg the future site of a national memorial to the great cil rights leader

dr. martin luther ki, jr. the ur-acre memorial ll incorporate the themes of dr. king's life: justice, democcy, and hope. lewis: martin luther ng, jr. was not a prident, but heust be looked upon as o of the founding fathers of the new america, a better america. narrator: the sign of washington's west presidential memorial unfolds in quiet medation-- a sharp contrast to t classic monuments to the otherhree presidents. landsce architect lawrencealperin's vision emasizes the thoughtfulxperience of moving through hun-scale spaces. man: the franklin d.oosevelt memorial different from any other on the mall because it was designed by a landscape archite to show the four administrions of the president

in four en rooms, with walls arod them, and they all connect. narrator: the memorial snas over seven and a hf acres, incorporating the numental views of theidal basin. water is a rurring theme, as it s in fdr's life. the first d second rooms evokfdr's leadership through e depression, the firesidehats, the new deal, and tural resource conservati programs. wod war ii dominated fds third term. a tumble of stonesepresents the terrible dtruction of war. the statuef fdr evokes his resote leadership, the likeness of his fthful dog fala, his humanity. fdr lived only mths into his unprecedentefourth term.

that room nors his post-war efrts to "win the peace." it's most fitting at the thomas jeffers memorial lies just across the tal basin from the fdr memial. prident roosevelt was e driving force behi the design and consuction ofhis exquisite tribute tour third president and the author of the dearation of independence. the memorial sits splendid isolation the tidal basin, especially beautiful in spri. as witmany memorials, both the dign and location wereontroversial. this choice spot on the tidal basin used to a popular beach. the desi echoes jefferson's n design for monticello, which in tn echoed the pantheoin rome. jeerson's statue is holding the declaration of independee.

thfirst stat was made of plaster. th bronze one wasn't installed until four years after the memoal's dedication in 1943 because of a shortage ofetal during world wari. quotes from jefferson's writgs reflect his decation to freedom of thoht and religion anhis abhorrence of slavery, although he was a ave owner. in spite of s personal inconsistencies, the words still give exession to the heights to wch human society can soar. the jefferson memori is the last of the majomonuments on t tidal basin, but some of the pital's most popular memials lie justeyond. yoseldom have a chance drive over a memorial, but heading ward arlington cemete, that'sxactly what happens as y cross the potomac river on the arlington memorial bridge.

with the linln memorial anchoring iteast end, e bridge was designed as a symbol of national reconciliati after the civil war, que literally reuniting thnorth and south. thbridge leads directly to the ceremonial entrance arlington national cemetery this gra entrance does more an greet visitors; it houses onof the area's least knowmemorials: the women in mitary service for amica memorial. toy, air force electronic-ielligence specialistammy a. garcia is being proted to senior masterergeant. garcia: it'sery important to me toave this ceremony here at the women's memorial. i just think of the saifices that have comeefore me, and hocould i not feel a rewed commitment? it just very empowering. want to set women apart. i want to ve a memorial that specifilly pays tribute to wt they do.

and there were many pele who said, "why do yohave a memorialo women?" i felthat we needed to do this in such a way that it ve meaning to what ispecial about the fa that women have serd in the military, and that it wa't just marble, grane, and water. narrator: the women's memoal has 16 exhibit alcoves and a hall ohonor. the heart of the award-winning memoal is an interaive registry containing the stories oover a quarter million won o are serving or who have served in america's armed forces. woman: it's not, you kno "what service are yofrom?" we're l in the armed services and we're all serving the same, you know, countr to be out ther i think that that is wh binds us. narrator: the uppeterrace of the women's morial offers vistas rich in story. looking west, arlington national cemeter

gently rises to t landmark arlington house. lookastward toward the lcoln memorial, and step bacin time. john f. kennedy was assassinated in 1963, duri his third year as psident. he was buried arlington national cemetery in a state funeral with military honor gud. the day before the funeral first lady jqueline kennedy requted an eternal flame. the flame mrs. kennedy l was a modified hawaiian rch, hurriedly cotructed as best theyould the night before. president kennedy's ernal flame was the first the world to honor an iividual statesman. forward march. narrator: every day, spectators gather in silce

inrlington cemetery for the solemn chging of the guard at the tomb of thenknown soldier. guards hal narrator: specialist chase neely is number 553 of only 555 volunteer tomb sentine since the ld guard," the elite third u.s.nfantry, began protecting the tb in 1948, 24 hours a day, days a week, all year round and in all weather. ney: everyone has a differe reason why they come do to the tomb. every reas changes once you start actually guarding the unknowns. you just... you pull so many hrs guarding the unknos and night urs. there definite is a presence. it'sike nothing else you coulever imagine. it's a cemery, so of course pele have ghost stories,

but it three unknowns thatot your back, and you're out there otecting them, and in tur they're protecting you. rrator: the precision ofheir uniforms, the asured steps, the acting ritual bear srk contrast to the vd left by what is unkwn: the names of thesend others forever lost in the chaos of war. the marble tomb liesbove the grave of an unknown soldr of world war i, interredere in 1921. under the whitplaza stones in frontf the tomb lie e remains of unknowns from world war ii and korea, terred in 58. between these two li an empty crypt, once containing the remains of a vietnam war unkno. remarkably, the downed pilotas later identified by dntesting. the whole of arlingt national cemetery--

over 600 rolling acres-- stands as a monume to those who have saificed for their country. the unending row of simple white tombones evoke the image soldiers in perfectormation. the cemetery was established in 1864 for the mounting numrs of civil war dead. near arlingtonouse stands a little-knowmonument for the to of civil war unknowns-- over 2,000 confedate and union soldiers commingl in one grave since 66. another little-kwn tribute to civil w soldiers liescross town inhe shaw neighborhood washington, d.c.-- the naonal african american civil war memorial. suounding the sculpture are the nameof over 200,000 afrin american soldiers who fought in the vil war. lee w. jacon's great great grandfatr was one of them.

he joined grant's army aft the emancipation proclamion. it isn just the history oflack americans; it's a part of the htory of the fabric of thicountry. ["tapsplaying] narrator: there are 20 to military funerals a day in arlinon cemetery. and if music can be a memorial, thentaps" must be that mody. man: i've bn sounding "taps" here at arlington national cemeter for over 22 yes. sounding "taps" is scial cause when that family comes into arlington to bury their loved one, th're hearing "taps" fothe first time. i've seen ma families break downn tears when the first note arts, so i always strive to make it perfect.

narrator: jacent to arlington cemetery is the u.s. marine corps war memorl, betternown as the statue ofwo jima. the toweri statue is based on e pulitzer prize photograph by j rosenthal, taken atop mount suribhi during the world war ii battle of iwo jima. although thetatue captures an inant in time, the valoexpressed is timeles on this co february 23rd, an anniversa of the raising of thflag, these ung marine recruits me to iwo jima. another phograph will live on their memories, and story will record what duty and sacrific lie ahead.

two her memorials to thermed forces anchor the nation's pital to the east... and we. on pennsylnia avenue in downtowwashington, d.c., the u.s. ny memorial honors navmen and women, past, esent and future. the plaza features a "granite sea" and a lone sailor standing watch. every spring, the aditional "blessing of t fleet" ceremony charges the memorial's fouains with waters from theeven seas. [applause] the s. air force memorial, ne the pentagon in virginia, the newest in the cital area, dicated in the fall of 2006. the memori honors all who haveerved in the u.s. air force and predecessor organization threstainless steel spires soar into the sky,

evoking flight and the mous thunderbird bomburst maneuver. thmemorial adds a new dension to the capital sline. longstreth: the air force memorial for, for the first time a real beacon when o is approaching washingt. you are entering a spial place. you are entering the tion's capital. narrator: civilization throughout the ages have bui monuments to revere eir mythic heroes and honor sacrificand triumph. but the greate memorials also guide andnspire. i think at is the calling ofhese memorials, these ndmarks, these pieces of r history.

naator: to find out mo abouthe memorials featured on the weta guide and to watch the programgain, visit us oine at... jim stavrakakis is proud veteran. my job was aerial otography, and i'd go up combat flights.

but he was also drn to the people. i've always d a curiosity of pele. and public tv swers your curiosity ofife. jim included his public television stion in his will. consider joininghe community of people o want public levision to span generations