Bush honours American WWII effort

For many, the WWII memorial was long overdue

US President George W Bush has paid tribute to the wartime efforts of millions of Americans at the dedication of the National WWII memorial.

Mr Bush addressed tens of thousands of veterans gathered in Washington.

They included his father George, who was a Navy pilot during WWII and presidential hopeful John Kerry, a veteran of the Vietnam war.

The idea for the memorial came in the 1980s and Congress authorised construction in 1993.

The huge oval of pillars and arches encircling a fountain was built on Washington's Mall with a sense of urgency, as many veterans are in their late 70s and in 80s.

They gave the best years of their lives to the greatest mission their country ever accepted George W Bush

"These were the modest sons of a peaceful country," President Bush told the crowd.

"They gave the best years of their lives to the greatest mission their country ever accepted."

Rising to the challenge

About 200,000 people swelled the centre of Washington on Saturday.

I figured this would be the last time to wear a uniform William Ryan Retired colonel

Many veterans gripped canes - others sat in wheelchairs.

Some grabbed their wives and danced in the aisles when 1940s swing music was played.

William Ryan, 80, a retired colonel who fought in France and Germany told AP news agency: "I figured this would be the last time to wear a uniform".

Earlier Mr Bush's father, former President George Bush - who was shot down over the Pacific in 1944 - addressed a service at Washington National Cathedral.

He said his generation was remarkable for the challenges it faced, adding that Americans today, as at any time, could rise to the same level of commitment.

"These were average men and women who lived in extraordinary times," he said.

'Different war'

The president, born a year after the war ended, concluded his own speech by asking "every member of that generation, to please rise as you are able and receive the thanks of our great nation".

The war president is under pressure over Iraq

Mr Bush made no specific reference to Iraq.

But the BBC's Nick Childs says the ceremony comes at a poignant and provocative moment, with Americans fighting and dying in another war.

Mr Bush has in the past drawn parallels between WWII and the present war in Iraq.

However, our correspondent says, many veterans have mixed feelings about comparing the two conflicts.

One former WWII soldier told the BBC: "It's an altogether different war. We are fighting with the individual people over there. We were up against the Nazi army."