WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Almost 50 years after the “Greatest Generation” saved the world, a grateful nation paid its respects to the 16 million Americans who served freedom’s cause with the opening of the World War II Memorial here April 29.

While the official dedication ceremony for the landmark will not occur until May 29, National Park Service officials decided on a “soft opening” for a number of reasons. The primary reason being the number of surviving World War II veterans is dwindling, and about 1,100 of them pass away every day, officials said.

From idea to completion, the World War II Memorial has taken almost 20 years to be realized. In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the bill authorizing the memorial to be built; in 1995, the memorial site was dedicated; and construction began in September 2001.

Early on, project critics were concerned about the size and placement of the proposed memorial distracting from other landmarks in the area, but those fears seem to have been unwarranted, officials said. Many who have previewed the new memorial have praised its design, placement and appropriateness, officials said.

The monument design includes sweeping views both east and west of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. It features granite pillars, a large paved plaza, arcs of stone, low waterfalls, bronze wreaths and 4,000 gold stars -- each star representing 100 military deaths.

Some people who have visited the memorial said it inspires reflection, gratitude, pride and patriotism -- everything a memorial to the heroism displayed by the “Greatest Generation” should do.