IBEW Lights World War II Memorial

July/August 2004 IBEW Journal

Americas finest electricians had a hand in constructing the national memorial to Americas greatest generation.

Donald Atkins, Local 70, drills cables in the transformer room at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Several proud IBEW Local 70 and Local 26 members helped light Washingtons newest memorial, dedicated on Memorial Day to the 16 million Americans who served and the 400,000 who died in World War II.

"It was a real honor to do something like that," said Local 70 member Robert Terry, foreman of the 10-man crew employed by W.A. Chester.

The memorial is a bronze and granite tribute to the war that ended nearly 60 years ago. IBEW Local 70 members installed transformers, switches and cable to light the 56 17-foot high granite pillars and two 43-foot-tall arches. Local 26 members did all the rest, said Union Light and Power Company President Fred Lisiewski, whose company was on site for 20 months, employing 12 electricians at peak.

Under Project Manager Bill Murphy, Local 26 members installed the distribution system, the general interior lighting, the electrical motor control for the fountain, as well as fire alarm and telecommunications wiring. A great deal of the wiring had to be done before the stone structure was put into place. "It was a challenge," said Lisiewski.

Two years under construction, the $67.5 million project was finished ahead of schedule.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors marveled at the memorial during four days of activities around the May 29 dedication and the 60^th anniversary of D-Day a week later.