F R A N K L I N   D E L A N O   R O O S E V E L T   M E M O R I A L

Washington, D.C.

This wonderful sculpture ensemble, created by artist Neil Estern, is the dominate element in this corner of the room. FDR looks confident and strong as he sits there, he is ready to tackle any and all obstacles that come his way. The statue does well to memorialized him as the fearless leader of that troubled era.

Looking at the statue, just like his dog, Fala, people can't seem to keep their hands off FDR as well. They seem to be taking a shine (figuratively and literally) to his left knee and right index finger. Seeing that some people are pulling FDR's finger, I hope the statue isn't interactive. Yuck, Yuck. Sorry folks, I couldn't just leave that one by the wayside.

This large inscription that's located near the statue ensemble reads: "We have faith that future generations will know that here, in the middle of the twentieth century, there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite, and produce, and fight to destroy the forces of ignorance, and intolerance, and slavery, and war."

Sadly, more that 300,000 Americans died fighting this horrendous war. FDR, however, had a vision to prevent such wars from happening in the future. It was in his last term, his fourth term, that he put the wheels of his idea into motion.

I've arrived at the memorial's fourth and last room, the Fourth Term - 1945.

Sadly, FDR's fourth term was a short one. Only a few months into his unprecedented fourth term, FDR experiences a fatal stroke, leaving behind 12 years of valued service to his beloved country. Before he passed away, he had time to add to his political legacy, to promote the ending of the war with Allied leaders in Yalta. Pulled from an undelivered speech, the inscription reads: "More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all war."

Just ending the war and going on with the Nation's business as usual was not at all on FDR's mind. Rather, he wished to form a world-wide consortium whose primary objective is to promote better understanding and cooperation between all world nations. His idea would gain traction and take hold after his death. This new consortium would be known as the United Nations.

The large bas-relief panel depicts FDR's funeral procession. The procession is illustrated as a horse led casket, followed by a large crowd of mourners. While not historical, the panel is symbolic to how important FDR was to the American people. Even in death they desired to follow their courageous leader to his final resting place.