Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware

By Staff Sgt. Brendan MackieDecember 7, 2013

Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
1 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
2 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, speaks with members of the 287th Army Band, Delaware National Guard, before the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
3 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, speaks with members of the 287th Army Band, Delaware National Guard, before the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
4 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, speaks with members of the 287th Army Band, Delaware National Guard, before the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
5 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, greets Donald Hattier of the 261st Coast Artillery (recreated) before the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. (U.S.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
6 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, checks out a restored Army jeep before the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
7 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, appears with veteran paratrooper and combat engineer Jerry Unruh who served with the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. Unruh, who also served as a Delaware s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
8 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Delaware Lt. Gov. Matt Denn, former State Rep. Jerry Unruh, Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs Chairman Paul Lardizzone, and State Sen. Patty Blevins, stand together during the opening ceremony at the dedication of a World War II memo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
9 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
11 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
12 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Former State Rep. Jerry Unruh gives the keynote address at the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Unruh served as a paratrooper and combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. (U.S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
13 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Former State Rep. Jerry Unruh gives the keynote address at the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Unruh served as a paratrooper and combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. (U.S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
14 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Former State Rep. Jerry Unruh gives the keynote address at the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Unruh served as a paratrooper and combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. (U.S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
15 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Former State Rep. Jerry Unruh gives the keynote address at the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Unruh served as a paratrooper and combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. The ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
16 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs listen to the keynote address during the dedication ceremony for a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
20 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
21 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, speaks during the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Mackie/... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
22 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, speaks during the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Mackie/... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
23 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, speaks during the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Mackie/... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
24 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, speaks during the dedication of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Mackie/... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
25 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – State Rep. Earl Jacques and former State Rep. Jerry Unruh prepare to reveal the World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Jacques is a retired Air Force officer and Unruh served with the 82nd Airborne Division during WWI... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
26 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
27 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Elected officials and distinguished guests applaud World War II veterans who came to witness the unveiling of the World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Mackie/Rel... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
31 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Francis Rivera plays the trombone during the dedication ceremony of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Rivera is a musician with the Delaware National Guard's 287th Army Band. (U.S. Army National ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
32 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Caitlin Freeman plays the euphonium during the dedication ceremony of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Freeman is a musician with the Delaware National Guard's 287th Army Band. (U.S. Army Nation... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
33 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Dan Ennis plays the tuba during the dedication ceremony of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Ennis is a musician with the Delaware National Guard's 287th Army Band. (U.S. Army National Guard phot... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
34 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Brian Ruby plays the trumpet during the dedication ceremony of the World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Ruby is a musician with the Delaware National Guard's 287th Army Band. (U.S. Army National Guard... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
35 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
36 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Delaware Lt. Gov. Matt Denn and former State Rep. Jerry Unruh appear during a dedication ceremony of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Unruh is a veteran paratrooper and combat engineer who served with the 82nd... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
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Greatest Generation gets WWII memorial in Delaware
40 / 40 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Rep. John Carney, Sen. Tom Carper and Sen. Chris Coons meet with former State Rep. Jerry Unruh after the dedication ceremony of a World War II memorial at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., Nov. 9, 2013. Unruh is a former paratrooper and combat en... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

DOVER, Del. - Surrounded by friends, family and supporters, dozens of World War II veterans witnessed the unveiling of a state-sponsored WWII memorial during a ceremony here, Nov. 9, 2013.

"I am truly honored and very humbled to be in the presence of you great World War II veterans," Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala said. "I know my father, a veteran of World War II, would be delighted that his native state, the first state, will finally dedicate a state memorial to our World War II veterans right here in the capital at Legislative Hall."

Vavala, who serves as the adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, told the veterans that they are truly members of the Greatest Generation.

"You selflessly preserved the world from tyranny and oppression. Your sacrifices and selfless service purchased for us the privileges of freedom, democracy and the unmatched opportunities that we enjoy in our United States," Vavala said. "It's real fitting that we honor you today in perpetuity through this monument."

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper also spoke about his lineage, citing various family members who served in the Navy and Army during the worldwide conflict.

"My mom's youngest brother Bob was a seaman in World War II. He never came home," Carper said. "He died in a Kamikaze attack on an aircraft carrier in the western Pacific. I never got to meet him. When we talked about all those lives that were lost, that's one of them."

U.S. Sen. Chris Coons spoke about the 33,000 Delawareans who served in the U.S. military during the war and the civilians back at home who supported them.

"The Greatest Generation was led by, inspired by, the men who took up arms and fought for us around the world," Coons said. "But they were supported by, loved by, and cheered on by, a generation here at home - from children to seniors - who pitched in to do their part for Uncle Sam."

The Second World War was costly for the United States and the state of Delaware was no different. More than 417,000 U.S. service members and civilians lost their lives; roughly 812 of those were Delawareans who died during the course of the conflict.

"I was in the 82nd Airborne during World War II," said former Delaware State Rep. Jerry Unruh who served in the Army as a paratrooper and combat engineer. "We had the highest casualty rate of the [United States] divisions over there. Our division [strength] was something around like 8,000. We had a causality rate, killed and wounded, of 65 percent."

Unruh emphasized the importance of honoring veterans for selfless service and sacrifice in support of freedom and democracy.

"We honor our veterans, let us never forget that they gave their todays so we could have our tomorrows," Unruh said. "To our heroes, we give a heartfelt salute and offer this monument as our humble tribute."