Letter
Dear Mr. Vogel:
In its meeting of 17 November, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed alternative concepts for a new plaque at the Circle of Remembrance of the World War II Memorial, to be inscribed with the prayer delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt by radio on D-Day. The Commission gave its general approval for the second alternative, providing the following comments to guide the development of the design.
The Commission members expressed strong support for the second option, which treats the plaque as an extension of the circular geometry of the site. However, they recommended more flexibility in the design of the elements defining the circle: for example, they suggested that the circumferential stone bench could be punctuated with gaps or sculpted along its length, and that the paths leading into the site could be asymmetrical in width. They recommended further study of the layout and mounting of the bronze panels to relate them to the logic of the overall revised design of the Circle of Remembrance. They encouraged the careful treatment of materials and details that define the setting of the plaque and circle as a contemplative component of the World War II Memorial, rather than as part of the general recreational area of the adjacent Constitution Gardens.
The Commission looks forward to the review of a revised concept design that responds to these comments. As always, the staff is available to assist you with the development of the design.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Robert Vogel, Regional Director
National Park Service, National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
cc: Sheila Brady, Oehme, van Sweden & Associates
Holly Rotondi, Friends of the National World War II Memorial