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The site for the memorial was dedicated by President Clinton in a formal ceremony on Veterans Day 1995. The project was funded primarily by cash & pledges from private contributions in addition to the $16 million provided by the federal government. Construction began in September 2001 and opened to the public in April 2004. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. Above all, the memorial stands as an important symbol of American national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that can flow when free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause. |