National World War II Memorial, Washington DC

Absolutely amazing... it is so serene and so powerful. Seeing the names on the wall... the emotions of everything taking their vows of silence in respect is really incredible. It’s so beautiful. It really is. You learn so much and just feel a realization of what had happened when you walk in. The fountains... the pool of reflection. Everything about it is powerful. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of visiting DC. So powerful and beautiful. It’s a must see. Walking is involved, it is stroller and wheel chair accessible. The Lincoln memorial is about a 10 minute walk away, but you can see it the whole time.

I last revisited the National World War II Memorial in D.C. during May a couple years back and greatly appreciated seeing this monument during the warmer time of the year. I was quite impressed with how beautiful it was compared a previous winter (Dec) visit. During my previous visit, the memorial fountain was emptied and turned off and the surrounding trees were bare. This time around, the fountain was turned on, adding a tranquil and beautiful dimension to the the National World War II Memorial. Further, the surrounding trees on both sides of The Mall were flush green with colour, making for beautiful views of the various columns, which represent states and U.S. territories that participated in the war on behalf of the United States. It was lovely seeing green trees around the memorial this time around. Note: Compared to my winter visit when the memorial had a handful of visitors, I found it quite busy and crowded this time. As such, be prepared for your pictures of the memorial to include quite a few people. If you want to take unobstructed pictures, it would be best to visit early in the morning before the tourist crowds arrive at The Mall.