Must-See War Memorials: 6 Places That Honor Fallen U.S. Service Members Dave Odegard May 26, 2017 Military Travel, Travel Guide War memorials, the monuments and statues built to mark the sacrifice and significance of military service members, can be found all over the world. Of course, a war memorial isn’t meant to glorify war. Memorials are meant to stand in tribute to those who lost their lives defending their country. A war memorial is a site where you can bow your head and honor those remembered. In the United States, there are many war memorials and paying your respects at just one of these extremely special places is an experience that you will never forget. A visit to a war memorial is a time to reflect on the hardships endured by the nation’s heroes and marvel at the beautiful commemoration of sacrifice. To help you do just that, here are just some of the memorials honoring America’s fallen service members that you can visit on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or any other day of the year. Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington, Virginia Arlington National Cemetery Originally the estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, the land for the Arlington National Cemetery was commandeered by the Federal government and turned it into a place to honor the Union soldiers at the height of the Civil War. Arlington has since become the most prominent U.S. military cemetery and serves as the resting place for over 400,000 soldiers, including the unidentified remains of service members that are interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial – Honolulu, Hawaii U.S.S. Arizona Memorial One of the most popular tourist attractions in Hawaii, the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial not only honors the sailors and marines who died when the battleship was destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, but also honors all other Americans who died that day. A full tour of the memorial lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes and includes a short documentary and boat ride out to the memorial, which sits above the sunken ship. You May Also Enjoy: Visiting Pearl Harbor Today — A Guide to the Memorials and Museums National Memorial Arch – Valley Forge, Pennsylvania Valley Forge From December 1777 to June 1778, Valley Forge served as the Continental Army’s winter encampment. It began as a low point for American forces during the Revolutionary War, with over 2,500 soldiers dying there from disease, starvation, and exposure to the elements. But it was also where the army, under the leadership of General George Washington, turned things around and became the military force that would eventually beat the British. Today, Valley Forge is a national park that preserves the history of the encampment. It is also home to the majestic Roman-architecture inspired arch dedicated “to the officers and private soldiers of the Continental Army.” Washington D.C. Memorials National World War II Memorial Nowhere else in the United States are there more memorials to fallen American services members than in the nation’s capital. Essential spots that visitors should make a point of seeing include the National World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans National Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. You can also visit less well-publicized memorials, including the African American Civil War Memorial, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, and the Marine Corps War Memorial. National WWI Memorial – Kansas City National World War I Memorial At the end of World War I, several prominent citizens in Kansas City gathered together to raise funds to build a memorial to honor the Americans that had died in the fighting. The Liberty Memorial opened in 1926, and in 2004 its accompanying museum was dedicated. In 2014, the site was officially recognized as the National World War I Memorial. National D-Day Memorial – Bedford, Virginia Detail from National D-Day Memorial Because the town of Bedford, Virginia suffered the largest percentage of casualties of any community on D-Day, it was chosen as the site for America’s D-Day memorial. The site commemorates all of the service members who perished during the largest seaborne invasion in history. Opened in 2001, the National D-Day Memorial features three plazas, each symbolizing different stages of D-Day: planning and preparation, the invasion itself, and victory. Brooklyn War Memorial – Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn War Memorial The granite and limestone Brooklyn War Memorial at Cadman Plaza is dedicated to the more than 300,000 “heroic men and women of the borough of Brooklyn” who served in World War II. Inside are displayed approximately 11,500 names of Brooklyn service members who died during the war. The two larger-than-life-sized figures depict a male warrior on the left and a female with a child to the right and serve as symbols of victory and family. Know of an American military memorial worth visiting that wasn’t included on our list? Let us know in the comments sections below!
