American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington

Grit and granite: A monument to disabled veterans
Philly.com
Edward Colimore, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: Sunday, September 28, 2014

"The country has finally separated the disdain for what politicians do with the military and the service member who sacrifices himself for his country," he said. "Our country loves the soldier and hates the war; that's a positive evolution."

At one point during the chaos and carnage of D-Day, the USS Frankford sailed so close to Omaha Beach that it scraped bottom.

The destroyer's big guns blasted German machine-gun positions and helped pinned-down GIs advance on June 6, 1944, when all seemed lost.

Tom Potts, then a teenager from Moorestown, was manning an antiaircraft gun on the Frankford's deck amid the cacophony of fire - and lost most of his hearing that day 70 years ago.

After numerous surgeries and hearing aids, the now-89-year-old from Upper Pittsgrove, Salem County, still has trouble following conversations and is among four million disabled service members who returned home with the lingering effects of war.

Next Sunday, all of them will be honored with the dedication of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington.

The 2.4-acre triangular site - across from the U.S. Botanic Garden and about 1,000 feet from the Capitol - uses granite and glass to communicate the strength and vulnerability of service members. read more here

Also some more on this story

Actor Gary Sinise champions disabled veterans' memorial
AUGUST 24, 2014

Sinise tells "Face the Nation" about his involvement with the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, which is nearing completion.