As Veterans Day approaches, we wanted to share a list of the most popular monuments that memorialize our heroes. From all of us at Monuments of Victoria, Happy Veterans Day to all who have served, and thank you for your sacrifice!
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington D.C.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery was originally dedicated in 1921 and is the resting place of a soldier who was killed in World War I. In 1937, a 24 hour guard was placed on the tomb as the site became more popular. Unknowns from World War II and Korea are also buried here, and there is a memorial dedicated to all those lost and missing in Vietnam.
Community Veterans Memorial, Indiana
The Community Veterans Memorial in Munster, Indiana honors all who fight and has a paved area featuring the names of individual soldiers from the area. Sculptures by artist Omri Amrany are featured throughout the park in a timeline.
National World War I Museum and Memorial, Missouri
The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri features the larges collection of World War I memorabilia in the nation. The physical site is quite powerful; visitors visit the museum itself at the bottom of a long hill and the space feels like a bunker. You can then take an elevator or climb to the top of the hill above the bunker to enjoy the Liberty Memorial at the top of the hill. There are both permanent and traveling exhibitions featured in the different buildings on site.
National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Ohio
A visit to the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, offers those who wish to honor our national fighters at a detailed level. Stories and experiences, as well as images when possible, from soldiers of the many wars our nation has faced are gathered and told here. Plan to spend some time here; there’s a Memorial Grove near the museum that provides a spot to reflect and remember.
Battleship South Dakota Memorial
The US Battleship South Dakota (BB 57) was the most highly decorated battleship to serve in World War II. During her service, this ship and her crew were known as Battleship X. The museum and memorial feature a walking path around the perimeter that encompasses the dimensions of the ship. There’s also a large collection of photographs, taken by journalists and the crew, of launch days and life aboard ship. This memorial is well worth a trip to Sioux Falls!
Veterans War Memorial of Texas
A visit to the Veterans War Memorial of Texas in McAllen, Texas, honors the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force each Pearl Harbor and Veterans Day, as well as hosting special events on Memorial Day and the 4th of July. This sizable park hosts an impressive parade and a chance to view the black granite American Spire of Honor. Names of veterans are listed on walls around the site and there are statues commemorating the bravery of American soldiers.
USS Texas Battleship
Northeast of McAllen, Texas, you’ll find the USS Texas Battleship in Houston. This floating museum has worked hard for our nation for a long time and is still educating future patriots. She was commissioned and built for the Great War, then put into service again for World War II. Walter Cronkite broadcast the Atlantic crossing into the battles of World War II from her deck. There are “hardhat” tours available as the clearance is low and she’s under refurbishment, but anyone interested in 20th-century naval history will appreciate an understanding of the challenges our defenders have faced.
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, California
For both a physical and a virtual presence, the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla, California offers visitors the chance to put a face to the name of a soldier lost in war. All branches of the service are honored, and the goal is to offer a visual representation of veterans who served their country. Any name can be added to this memorial; the only requirement is that the soldier have been honorably discharged.
Final Thoughts
There are many sites across the country that give us the chance to honor our veterans. No matter how far you are able to travel, you can likely find a memorial, a park or a statue where you can share a thought or place a flower.
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