File:Clerestory window 05 - War Memorial Chapel - National Cathedral - DC.JPG

English: Detail of the stained glass clerestory window "Freedom II" in the War Memorial Chapel at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The bottom of the left pane shows an amphibious landing in Normandy during World War II, and bottom of the right pane depicts the liberation of an occupied French town.

The window was designed by Joseph G. Reynolds, Jr. and fabricated by Reynolds, Francis, Rohnstock, & Setti. it was dedicated in 1952.

The War Memorial Chapel honors people who have served in the United States military. Planning for some sort of war memorial in the cathedral began in 1946. The original plan was to build a War Memorial Chapel in the North Transept, but by 1947 the goal was to build a "Patriot's Transept" in the south instead. Shortly thereafter, a War Memorial Chapel was added. By 1950, plans were made for three stained glass windows in the chapel, as well as "National Roll of Honor." The transept opened on September 28, 1952. The War Memorial Chapel was mostly complete by 1953, but was not dedicated until October 20, 1957. President Dwight Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth II dedicated it in a brief ceremony.

The bookcases to the right of the altar contain the "National Roll of Honor," which is a listing of the names and dates of service of tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. (Anyone can have their loved one enrolled here.) Above them are carved wooden shields, painted to look like war theater service medals from American history.

The stained glass windows emphasize the themes of freedom and sacrifice in wartime. Among the scenes depicted are: Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt; Abraham Lincoln emancipating the slaves; the flag-raising at Iwo Jima; paratroopers landing on a battlefield; and much more.

"The Suffering Christ" is the artwork above the altar. Designed and executed by British artist Steven Sykes, torn sheets of brass in the halo simulate brass cannon shells. The spikes inside the halo are cast aluminum colored to remind the viewer of barbed wire. The copper rays of light in the halo look like bayonets.

The three-foot high oak rails in the chapel were paid for by the donations of hundreds of U.S. Marines on the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

A "clerestory" window is one that is high above the floor, and usually is quite narrow. They are designed to allow light into a cathedral.

Originally, the cathedral building committee required that all stained glass in the cathedral be the modestly colored English-style stained glass. Lawrence Saint designed most of the stained glass windows for the chancel, choir, and side chapels. But in the 1950s, financial patron James Sheldon convinced the building committee to abandon that plan in favor of the more vibrant, light-filled style of the French and Spanish cathedrals. This is why the Washington National Cathedral has such vibrant, glowing windows instead of gloomy pastels that let in almost no light.