MONROE - A WWII veteran from Monroe and his wife were among the first to be asked to leave the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. when the government shut down Oct. 1.
"It was kind of funny they closed it, because you could stand there and see it all anyway," said Bill Schwaiger.
Schwaiger and his wife Robin were enjoying the WWII Memorial during a trip to visit relatives in the area.
"If I had been a veteran (who had) driven specifically to see the memorial, I'd have been ticked off," he added.
The memorial is on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The Schwaigers had gotten a ride and had been dropped off at the sidewalk next to the memorial.
"People were milling around, and it appeared to be open," Schwaiger said.
Schwaiger said he and Robin began their visit with a stroll through the memorial.
"We were about two-thirds of the way through when a policeman came up and said, 'OK, the memorial is closed. Everybody out,'" Schwaiger said. "So everybody peaceably left."
"Actually, we continued walking around the monument and took pictures," he added. "You can walk around the monument, the outside of it, and you can see everything very well."
Schwaiger and Robin thought about walking to the Korean War Veterans Memorial near the opposite end of the Reflecting Pool, about 1,500 feet away, he said, but they were told that memorial also was closed.
Schwaiger is 85 years old and one of the last of the WWII era soldiers to join up. He spent most of his tour of duty stationed in Korea during its occupation.
The National WWII Memorial, consisting of 56 pillars and a pair of small triumphal arches surrounding a plaza and fountain, was first opened to the public on April 29, 2004.
"It was kind of funny they closed it, because you could stand there and see it all anyway," said Bill Schwaiger.
Schwaiger and his wife Robin were enjoying the WWII Memorial during a trip to visit relatives in the area.
"If I had been a veteran (who had) driven specifically to see the memorial, I'd have been ticked off," he added.
The memorial is on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The Schwaigers had gotten a ride and had been dropped off at the sidewalk next to the memorial.
"People were milling around, and it appeared to be open," Schwaiger said.
Schwaiger said he and Robin began their visit with a stroll through the memorial.
"We were about two-thirds of the way through when a policeman came up and said, 'OK, the memorial is closed. Everybody out,'" Schwaiger said. "So everybody peaceably left."
"Actually, we continued walking around the monument and took pictures," he added. "You can walk around the monument, the outside of it, and you can see everything very well."
Schwaiger and Robin thought about walking to the Korean War Veterans Memorial near the opposite end of the Reflecting Pool, about 1,500 feet away, he said, but they were told that memorial also was closed.
Schwaiger is 85 years old and one of the last of the WWII era soldiers to join up. He spent most of his tour of duty stationed in Korea during its occupation.
The National WWII Memorial, consisting of 56 pillars and a pair of small triumphal arches surrounding a plaza and fountain, was first opened to the public on April 29, 2004.