Welcome to American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, located adjacent to the National Mall and within steps of the U.S. Capitol. Through the juxtaposition of granite, glass, bronze, water and fire, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial conveys a combination of strength and vulnerability, loss and renewal. At this sacred spot, all of us—sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, wives, husbands and friends—have the opportunity to learn the important lessons of courage, sacrifice, tenacity, loyalty and honor by bearing witness to the experiences of our heroes who are disabled. Dedicated to both the living and the deceased—a setting for coming together or quiet meditation—the Memorial holds a special place in the hearts of all Americans, and serves as a never-ending reminder of the cost of human conflict. Built following the rigid standards of the U.S. Commemorative Works Act, this Memorial, as all memorials in Washington D.C., strictly adhered to the "24 Steps for Establishing a Memorial in the Nation's Capital" – which began with the Memorial's authorization by Congress in 2000. From that point, making the vision of the Memorial a reality took 14 more years until it was dedicated and delivered to the American people in October of 2014 with President Obama accepting on behalf of the country. But before we get started, let me explain the many ways in which you can explore our beautiful Memorial: - You can click on the front facing arrow to start walking around our Memorial - You can also jump to the Next Stop by clicking on the Next Stop button - Now, if you already know where you want to go, you can select any location by using the list OR by clicking directly on the map - Lastly, remember that you can explore any particular location in more detail by clicking on the 360 panorama, Photo, or Video icons