VOA标准英语2014--美国新开纪念馆荣耀伤残军人

 

New US Memorial Honors Disabled Veterans 美国新开纪念馆荣耀伤残军人

WASHINGTON— 

A number of memorials in Washington pay tribute to Americans in the armed forces.

On Sunday, a new memorial opens to honor all American veterans who were disabled while serving their country.

The one-hectare landmark¹ adjacent to the National Mall, which took several years to construct, is the first to honor disabled vets². Featuring a five-point, star-shaped fountain representing the five branches of the American military, a reflecting pool, and granite³ slabs⁴ and glass panels, the piece illustrates⁵ the strength and fragility of the disabled.

Deep cost

For Ron Hope, who lost his arm in 1969 during combat in the Vietnam War, the tribute is a long time coming.

“I think this memorial is going to be a place that not only the disabled veterans themselves, but their families, their survivors⁶, their caregivers — especially their caregivers," said Hope, who heads the Disabled American Veterans charity. "Their dependents can come and reflect upon what it cost every day for their blessings⁷ and their freedoms in this country.”

Hope is among the 4 million disabled veterans in the United States. One wall at the memorial has quotes with expressions of gratitude⁸ for their sacrifices. Sheets of glass inscribed⁹ with images of veterans tell the stories of what it was like to be wounded and how they cope with their disabilities. Hope said for many disabled veterans, it’s a constant struggle and it doesn’t help that many of them feel invisible.

“Sometimes the American public don’t know how to approach, don’t know how to talk, don’t know how to deal with them, and so, therefore, they avoid them. And that emotionally is worse than the disability itself,” he said.

Inform, educate, remind

Philanthropist Lois Pope began pushing for the memorial almost two decades ago after meeting soldiers at a rehabilitation¹⁰ center. She is the co-founder of a foundation that raised more than $80 million for the memorial, including $10 million of her own. She explained what she hopes the memorial will accomplish.

“To inform, educate and remind the American people of the sacrifices and the struggles, the continuing struggles, and the lack of recognition and respect we have in this country for disabled vets,” she said.

Pope said the disabled veterans memorial is a reminder¹¹ of the cost of war; but, she says it is also a place for reflection and hope, peace and healing for disabled veterans and their loved ones.

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 vets   

abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。 来自互联网
• In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。 来自互联网

3 granite   

adj.花岗岩，花岗石

参考例句：

• They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
• The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。

4 slabs   

n.厚板，平板，厚片( slab的名词复数 )；厚胶片

参考例句：

• The patio was made of stone slabs. 这天井是用石板铺砌而成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The slabs of standing stone point roughly toward the invisible notch. 这些矗立的石块，大致指向那个看不见的缺口。 来自辞典例句

5 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

6 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

7 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

9 inscribed   

v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接

参考例句：

• His name was inscribed on the trophy. 他的名字刻在奖杯上。
• The names of the dead were inscribed on the wall. 死者的名字被刻在墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

11 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。