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1945: The Arlington War Memorial Association Plans a “Living Memorial”

Post Published: April 4, 2019

Have you heard of “living memorials”? A popular concept after World War II, they resonated with Depression-era and war time slogans and values such as “better living,” and intersected with the interest in urban planning that intensified during World War II.

Elevation image from a promotional flyer advertising Potomac Engineering Corporation's services for planning and building a living war memorial.
blueprint plan showing the grounds layout, from a promotional flyer advertising Potomac Engineering Corporation's services for planning and building a living war memorial.

In July 1945, Arlington County residents formed the Arlington War Memorial Association. The purpose of the organization was to “establish and maintain a useful memorial to the veterans of the present war and of all wars of our nation.”

The Arlington War Memorial Association aimed to build a living memorial—a memorial that would honor the sacrifice of Arlington citizens who served in a war, but also that would “become the heartbeat of the county contributing to everyone’s wellbeing.” They planned to do this by building a community center on Lee Boulevard, much like the one depicted in these images from a promotional flyer advertising Potomac Engineering Corporation's services for planning and building a living war memorial.

Promotional flyer advertising Potomac Engineering Corporation's services for planning and building a living war memorial, asking, "what do we and our youth need most?"
Promotional flyer advertising Potomac Engineering Corporation's services for planning and building a living war memorial, emphasizing the need for urban planning

The Arlington War Memorial Association’s efforts ultimately failed. But you can learn more about their plans, and see these images in person, at the Center for Local History.

To see more items like these, or to learn more about Arlington's history, visit the Center for Local History on the first floor of the Central Library.

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April 4, 2019 by Web Editor

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Charlie Clark Center for Local History


The Charlie Clark Center for Local History (CCCLH) collects, preserves, and shares resources that illustrate Arlington County’s history, diversity and communities. Librarians and archivists develop collections of unique research material and make them available for use by residents, students, teachers, genealogists, scholars, authors, journalists and anyone interested in learning more about Arlington County.

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