Liberty Memorial is closer to national World War I memorial designation

The U.S. Senate on Friday passed a bill designating the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City as the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

It was an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which previously passed the House and now goes to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it.

In a compromise, the bill also designated Pershing Park in Washington, D.C., as a national World War I memorial. Improvements to that park will require private funds.

Liberty Memorial officials have long sought the designation of national memorial. It already had been declared the national museum to the Great War.

“This recognition from Congress is a tribute to the foresight and dedication of the 80,000-plus Kansas City area residents who took the initiative to establish and build the Liberty Memorial and museum shortly after the end of World War I,” Matthew Naylor, museum president, said in a statement.

This story was originally published December 12, 2014 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Liberty Memorial is closer to national World War I memorial designation."