Wisdom in Stone: The WWII Memorial’s Hidden Insights About Industrialization
Learning to Build a Resilient Defense Industrial Base from Unexpected Places
Yesterday, as I walked with my family along the National Mall, I decided to stop briefly at the National World War II Memorial, in Washington, D.C.
Standing among the marble blocks “in the presence of Washington and Lincoln” one can feel the presence of our forebears that fought across Northern Africa, in China-Burma-India, through Sicily and up the Italian Boot, island-hopping across the Pacific, and braving Fortress Europe.
The monument is beautiful and peaceful and stark.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the names of the battles, places like Tarawa or Anzio or Salerno. It’s a fitting memorial to the bravery and determination of American service members fighting evil across the world.
And, if one looks closely, one can see that it doesn’t just honor the men-at-arms fighting in those locations. Instead, this incredible monument also highlights the critical role played by the home front and industry in securing freedom globally.
Approaching the memorial from the east, visitors step into the ceremonial entrance adorned by twelve ronde bas-reliefs chronologizing and highlighting the experience of the war on the home front. The first bas-relief depicts mobilization and production in advance of and during the war.
A young paperboy (second from right) carries a newspaper that reads “Germany declares war…” The boxes in the background read “Lend Lease” and “Great Britain.” This seemingly small detail is important and highlights the role that early mobilization played in ensuring preparedness for the war. The evolution of policy from isolationism to Cash-and-Carry and on to Lend Lease helped prime our factories, plants, and other manufacturing capabilities.
The full scope of mobilization was captured in a statement that President Franklin Roosevelt made in August of 1942.
They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes and welded the tanks, riveted the ships and rolled the shells.
The inscription reads: “They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes and welded the tanks, riveted the ships and rolled the shells.” These words encapsulate the all-encompassing effort that characterized the American home front during the war.
Our future success relies not just on the Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, or Guardian. Instead, our future ability to equip those servicemembers with the tools they’ll need to fight and win will continue to play a critical role in deterring adversaries and when necessary defeating enemies. The lessons from World War II are clear: a whole-of-nation effort is essential for success. Today, as we face new global threats, we must leverage modern technology to build a resilient, flexible, and efficient defense industrial base.
As I left the monument, I was reminded of the enduring spirit of innovation and collaboration that has always defined America. It’s this spirit that will guide us as we build the defense industrial base of the future. If you find yourself in Washington, D.C. pay a visit to this memorial and let it remind you that our success in World War II was not just due to military strategy but was built on the backbone of a nationwide mobilization of industry, resources, and people. It was an era where everyone had a role to play, and the collective effort was nothing short of extraordinary.
And as always,
Keep building!
Andrew
Other editions of Building our Defense focused on our Industrial Base:
