CHAPTER 244

AN ACT to create a “Virginia World War II Memorial Commis-
sion” and prescribe its powers and duties; to authorize the
erection of a “Living Memorial” in recognition of the patri-
otic services of Virginians in World War II; to authorize
the donation of a suitable site therefor; and to make appro-
priations to carry out the provisions hereof.

[fH 112 ]

Approved April 1, 1950

~“WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL BILL”
PREAMBLE:

Whereas, more than 300,000 Virginians rendered honorable
and distinguished service in the Armed Forces of the United
States of America during World War IT; and

Whereas, several other hundreds of thousands of Virgin-
ians, in the Virginia State Guard and in various volunteer civil-
ian capacities, rendered faithful and valuable service to the
cause of their State and nation in said war; and

Whereas, it is fitting and desirable that the Commonwealth
of Virginia should accord appropriate, permanent and useful
recognition to these patriotic Virginians whose service and sacri-
fice contributed substantially toward bringing the war to a
victorious conclusion; and

Whereas, The American Legion and other veteran organiza-
tions have recommended that this recognition be in the form of
a stately and beautiful Memorial Building, with a “Shrine of
Memory” and with an auditorium and appropriate facilities suit-
able for public, patriotic, educational and recreational assemblies
and events under proper auspices and regulation, and with
proper provision for the State headquarters of The Adjutant
General of Virginia and for the National Guard of Virginia and
for the Division of War Veterans’ Claims, and for State Head-
quarters of recognized representative veterans’ organizations,—
thereby constituting a “Living Memorial” that will be perma-
nently useful, as well as beautiful, and that will furnish inspira-
tion for the future together with recognition of the past; and

Whereas, the foregoing recommendation has been approved
in principle by the Virginia Commission on Veterans’ Affairs;
and

Whereas, such ‘“‘Living Memorial” would be externally beau-
tiful and inspiring as a monument and also internally of perma-
nent value and constructive use to the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia, to the veterans of Virginia, and to the general public.
Now, Therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia :—

1. There is hereby authorized and created the ‘Virginia
World War II Memorial Commission, hereinafter called the Com-
mission, to be composed of fourteen citizens of Virginia as
follows :—

Five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed
by the Speaker of the House;

Four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Presi-
dent of the Senate;

Four citizens at large to be appointed by the Governor;

The Adjutant General of Virginia.

The Commission shall appoint from among its member-
ship a Chairman; one or more Vice-Chairman and a Secretary.

The Commission shall be continued during and after the
construction of said Memorial as herein provided, and shall be
the official custodian of said Memorial, and have complete con-
trol thereof with authority to do or cause to be done all things
necessary in connection therewith, subject to any directions
the General Assembly of Virginia may from time to time here-
after provide.

. The Commission is hereby authorized and directed to
do all things necessary to erect or cause to be erected in the
Capitol City of the Commonwealth on a site to be selected and
donated, as hereinafter provided, a ‘‘World War II Memorial’
building, of the type and for the purposes indicated in the Pre-
amble to this Act.

3. This Act is conditioned upon the City of Richmond, or
someone for it, deeding to the Commonwealth of Virginia,
without cost to the Commonwealth, a site for said Memorial
deemed suitable by the City, the Commission and the Governor.
The form and sufficiency of said deed shall be approved by the
Attorney General. Authority to make such deed is hereby con-
ferred upon the City of Richmond.

4. The cost of said Memorial by the Commonwealth shall
be in such sum as may be approved by the Commission and the
Governor, not exceeding a total of one million dollars; provided
however that if the government of the United States of America
shall make additional funds available to the Commission or to
the Commonwealth for use in the construction of said building,
on terms and conditions deemed satisfactory and acceptable by
the Commission and by the Governor, then and in that event the
Commission may, in its discretion, with the written approval of
the Governor and the Attorney General, accept said additional
funds and adjust the plans for said Memorial to conform to said
terms and conditions; and in such event the Commission may
approve any increase or decrease in the cost of said Memorial,
which the Commission and the Governor, may deem necessary
and appropriate. However, the total cost to the Commonwealth
shall not in any event exceed the amount of one million dollars.

5. For the purposes of this act, there is hereby appropriated
out of the general fund of the State treasury for the year ending
June 30, 1951 the sum of $50,000.00;

And for the purposes of this act there is hereby appropri-
ated out of the general fund of the State treasury for the year
ending June 30, 1952, the sum of $50,000; and also the sum of
$400,000; provided, however, that this conditional appropriation
of $400,000 shall not become available for expenditure, either
in whole or in part, unless and until the Governor certifies to
the Comptroller in writing that the payment of this appropria-
tion of $400,000, or of any such part thereof as may be so certi-
fied, will not create a deficit in the general fund of the State
treasury. )

Provided, further, that the appropriations herein made shall
be expended on warrants of the Comptroller, issued on vouchers
signed by the Chairman of the said Commission, or by such other
person or persons as may be designated by the Commission for
this purpose.

6. The Commission shall make a report of its proceedings
to the Governor and the Attorney General and the members of
the General Assembly of Virginia not later than the 15th day
of December, 1951, and every two years thereafter.

The members of the Commission shall receive no salary or
compensation for their services, but shall be paid a per diem of
Ten Dollars ($10.00) each and actual expenses incurred in the
discharge of their duties.

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