Tom Brokaw, in his now famous book, calls our World War II veterans and their families "the Greatest Generation." All Americans owe an extraordinary debt to those millions who marched forth in the service of their country united in a common cause. They gave all they had to give, and saw the best and worst of human nature. They liberated Europe; restored peace in the Pacific; and then returned home to strengthen our economy, enrich our society, and create opportunities for generations that succeeded them.

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    Of the 16 million American men and women in uniform, 248,000 were Floridians. Indeed, there are more than twice that number -- 600,000 -- living in Florida today. We owe it to these veterans to remember their indomitable spirit, exceptional commitment, and willing sacrifices. More importantly, we owe it to them to pass on their values to future generations.

    The theme of Florida’s WWII Memorial will be to preserve the indomitable spirit, exceptional commitment, and willing sacrifices for generations to come. Florida is what it is today because of the efforts not only of the veterans, but those who stayed behind to support them. The infrastructure of the state - the road network, the defense establishment, and many of our factories and businesses - exist today because of that time. It is appropriate then that the Memorial encompass and include the entire state, not just those who can visit the state capital. It must be enduring. Because we are losing 1,000 WWII veterans nationwide each day, the Memorial will serve to educate future generations as to the historical value of the war and the sacrifices of its participants.

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