When the United States came under attack from the Empire of Japan on December 7, 1941, Charles W. Bressler-Pettis was a retired physician living in Florida,[2] and was president of the Kissimmee All-States Tourist club that catered to senior citizens.

[4] Pettis devised an idea to erect a unique monument in Kissimmee that he hoped would inspire American solidarity in response to the attack.

The result of Pettis's collaboration with Fisher was a step-pyramid weighing an estimated 100,000 pounds and reinforced with 3 ½ tons of steel rails.

By the time of its 1943 completion and dedication by Florida's United States Senator Claude Pepper, it was composed of 1,500 stones and objects donated[11] from all over the world.

As tourism was drawn away by the 1971 opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando, the Kissimmee monument fell into neglect and disrepair.