Saturday, January 7, 2012

America Will Never Forget

The following words are inscribed on the Announcement Stone of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D. C.

HERE IN THE PRESENCE OF WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN,
ONE THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY FATHER AND THE OTHER THE
NINETEENTH CENTURY PRESERVER OF OUR NATION, WE HONOR
THOSE TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICANS WHO TOOK UP THE STRUGGLE
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND MADE THE SACRIFICES TO
PERPETUATE THE GIFT OUR FOREFATHERS ENTRUSTED TO US:
A NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

The global conflict was underway by 1939 and ended in 1945. During that time, over 100 million military personnel were mobilized. Tragically, over 50 million men and women were killed. It was the deadliest military conflict in history.

 

Dedicated on Veterans Day in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the World War II Memorial was erected to honor the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the United States, those who died and all those at home who supported the war effort. 




The memorial includes Freedom Wall, comprised of 4048 gold stars--each star representing 100 American service personnel who died or remained missing.  This number is second only to the loss of men and women during our own Civil War.


Freedom Wall with Gold Stars


The following men and women are descendants of John and Eliza Taylor who served in the United States military during World War II.


Taylor    Cranford Ray                      Army     Son of Charles & Antha Taylor

Taylor    Cecil       Marion                 Army     Son of Charles & Antha Taylor

Taylor    Thurlo   McKinley             Army     Son of Alonzo & Margaret Taylor

Taylor    Hubert Atticus                  Army     Son of Alonzo & Margaret Taylor

Taylor    Lester   Alonzo                  Army     Son of Willie & Bertha Taylor

Taylor    Carlos     Cleo                     Navy      Son of Willie & Bertha Taylor

Taylor    Selma    Virgie                    Army     Daughter of Willie & Bertha Taylor

Taylor    James   Washington Jr.    Army     Son of James Washington & Mary Taylor

Taylor    Lenward                              Navy      Son of William Fred & Alma Taylor

Taylor    Charles T                             Army     Son of Amery & Mary Sally "Tom" Taylor

Taylor    Walter  Theo                      Army     Son of Alfred & Saphronia Taylor


Taylor    Charles Raymond             Marine  Son of William Verpo & Sarah Elizabeth Taylor


Taylor   David Vernon                     Army      Son of George Washington & Cora Taylor


Hardin  John Max                            Navy       Son of Elephair (Taylor) and Arthur Gordon Hardin


Taylor  Irvin Denison                       Army      Son of Joseph Marion and Delia Taylor


Taylor Olan Vaughn "Coose"        Navy       Son of Francis Marion, Jr. & Lula Taylor


Taylor Charles Washington           Army       Son of David Vernon & Gertrude Taylor


Taylor  W D                                       Navy        Son of John Wesley & Docia Taylor


Taylor Emmett Lee Sr.                    Army       Son of William Jackson & Delilah Taylor
 
OUR DEBT TO THE HEROIC MEN AND VALIANT WOMEN IN THE SERVICE
OF OUR COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE REPAID. THEY HAVE EARNED OUR
UNDYING GRATITUDE. AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES.

President Harry S Truman
(inscription on western corner)
Alabama Column
World War II Memorial
Washington, D. C.

We remember this generation of Taylors.  God bless their families.
God Bless America.

Most likely, there are Taylor men and women who were inadvertently omitted from the list above.  Please contact the author to have the name(s) inserted.

Sources:  World War II Wikipedia, http://www.wwiimemorial.com/

Many thanks for photographs of WWII Memorial:  Marilyn Parker Hodge