American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

The opening ceremony for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial took place on October 5, 2014. In a city with memorials for each major US war and numerous renowned individuals, a permanent memorial for our wounded warriors has finally been built. After design submissions from more than 20 renowned architecture firms, the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation selected Michael Vergason Landscape Architects for the new American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial’s design. Their prior work includes the National Cathedral, U.S. Cemetery at Omaha Beach (France), United States Supreme Court, Monticello, Montpelier, Gannett Corporate Headquarters, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Virginia.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial serves as a national public tribute to the over three million living disabled American veterans and the countless hundreds of thousands who have died. The Memorial is built on a 2.4-acre triangular site across from the U.S. Botanic Garden and is within sight of the U.S. Capitol, so members of Congress can be continually reminded of the human cost of war and the need to support America’s veterans.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial conveys an interplay of strength and vulnerability, loss and renewal with a star-shaped reflecting pool serving as the focal point. Three walls of laminated glass with text and images and four bronze sculptures will tell the story of the disabled veteran’s call to service, trauma, challenge of healing, and discovery of purpose. The Memorial design was conceived by Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd., and received final approvals from the Commission of Fine Arts in 2009 and the National Capital Planning Commission in 2010.

In November 2010 a groundbreaking was held with national spokesperson Gary Sinise and construction is finally complete. Towards the end of construction in August 2014, Flexi-Pave was be used to pave around the trees being planted at the memorial. Memorials are not typically known for being LEED or LID projects and as such, Flexi-Pave was chosen for this project due in part for its porosity, aesthetics, durability, sustainability, recycled content and other environmentally friendly characteristics.

Capitol Flexi-Pave is grateful for our Veterans and their self-sacrificial efforts to grant Americans the freedom we so cherish. For our freedom is not without cost, and these Veterans have born the majority of that cost. They and their families will forever carry the burdens of our freedom. By their efforts they have fulfilled one of God’s greatest commandments which is to love your neighbor as yourself.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” – John 15:13

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” – 1 John 3:16

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Read the “Disabled Veterans Memorial Shines…” article here.

To view the plans for this project click on the following: AVDLM Plans