"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."- Sir Winston Churchill

Washington, D.C. is a city of monuments and memorials. Almost anywhere you go in the city, you will see monuments dedicated to men and women who have served their nation and, in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice to build a better nation and a better world for the rest of us.

However, there is one monument that does not yet exist. Currently, there is no national memorial to the men and women who fought and died during World War II.

The men and women who fought in World War II left an indelible mark on the United States and the world. Their sacrifices brought about a tremendous victory over fascism and made the United States a world power both economically and militarily. This country still owes them a tremendous debt of gratitude.

The biggest hurdle the World War II memorial faces is raising money. The $100 million memorial will be funded almost entirely by private contributions, and will be the first national memorial dedicated to all those that served during World War II.

The memorial will honor all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nations call to arms. I think it is of paramount importance that we remember the moral strength and sacrifices our nation endured during this time.

That is why I, with the help of area veterans organizations, held a dog and bean supper to raise money for the National World War II Memorial. With the strong support of Northwest Indiana veterans we were able to raise approximately $3,000. The World War II Memorial is long overdue and I was very pleased to be able to contribute to this campaign. The support for this event from the citizens of Northwest Indiana was incredibly encouraging.

However, more can be done and I encourage all residents of Northwest Indiana to do their part to construct this fitting tribute to the World War II generation.

If you would like to donate to the memorial, you can call the World War II Memorial Fund at 800-639-4WW2 or you can visit the memorial website at www.wwiimemorial.com. There is a link from my official website (www.house.gov/visclosky/) to the memorial site. You can also send a donation to: World War II Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 96766, Washington, D.C. 20090-6766.

Current plans call for the American Battle Monument Commission (ABMC) to break ground for the memorial by Veterans' Day 2000.

We must remember that freedom is not free. We must never forget those who sacrificed to protect our freedom. And we cannot wait another 50 years to honor the World War II generation. It's past time to build this memorial. We can make it happen.