By The Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Kansas City deserves to be at the heart of activities in five years when America observes the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. Congress can make that happen.

First, the Liberty Memorial should be designated as the official National World War I Memorial. The U.S. House last week voted 418-1 to do just that. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. Republican Ron Paul of Texas was the lone holdout. In the Senate, Republican Kit Bond and Democrat Claire McCaskill have given the idea their bipartisan endorsement.

The House-passed bill also contains the worthwhile idea to establish a national commission in Kansas City. It would plan a World War I centennial commemoration in 2014.

The Liberty Memorial originally was funded with contributions from ordinary Kansas Citians. It has had rough times — it deteriorated and was closed to the public in 1994 — but also has enjoyed a glorious comeback. Voters twice in recent years have approved using millions of public dollars to renovate the memorial and to expand the National World War I Museum.

The Liberty Memorial is the perfect location for the upcoming centennial tribute to those who served in World War I.