Unique Veteran’s Day Memorials To Visit

The holiday that we now know as Veterans Day, has its origins in the ending of World War 1 – then known as “The Great War”.   fighting between the Allied nations and Germany ceased on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918.  For that reason, it was originally referred to as “Armistice Day” and was set aside to honor veterans of World War I.

Though many had called it “the war to end all wars”, mankind continued to clash and create conflict after World War I. Brave men and women fought in other wars including World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam war.  In 1975, President Ford signed Public Law 94-97 which declared November 11 officially “Veterans Day” to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and sacrifice for our common good.

There are many monuments and memorials that commemorate this special day, and the people who served our country.  Here are some of our favorites:

Location: Anthem, Arizona

Designed By: Renee Palmer – Jones

Description: Five stone pillars representing five branches of the army, surrounded by 750 brick pavers within a Circle of Honor that symbolizes the ‘support” of the forces and an unbreakable border.   The white pillars with the red bricks sit under a blue sky to represent our patriotic colors.

Cool Fact: “At precisely 11:11am each November 11, the sun’s rays pass through the ellipses of the pillars to form a perfect solar spotlight over a mosaic of The Great Seal of the United States.”

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Designed By: Weihe, Frick & Kruse

Description: Monumental stairs flanked by the “Courts of the Missing” culminating in the “Court of Honor” with a 30ft female statue known as “Columbia”.  Dedicated to the approximate 28,000+ missing servicemen & women.Originally made of Italian marble which has been oxidizing due to Hawaiian climate and is now being replaced with white limestone.

Cool Fact: DNA matching is now being used to identify remains of veterans killed in combat that were collected, but previously unidentifiable.  Should a missing service member’s remains be identified and returned to their family, a rosette is placed next to their name in the Court.

Location: Richmond, Virginia

Designer: S.J. Collins

Description:  Mid-century modernity combined with the timeless style of a Greek temple.  “The stone and glass memorial commemorates Virginians who were killed in conflicts since WWII.”  All is watched over by a 22 foot tall statue of a woman in grief called “Memory” with an eternal flame flickering steadily at her feet.

Cool fact: Virginia’s popular tourism tagline was originally written as “Virginia is for history lovers” because of the state’s extensive participation in US wars: at least 12,000 servicemen killed and thousands more that fought and returned home. Today the Virginia Tourism Corp shortens the phrase to simply “Virginia is for lovers”.

Location: Troy, Michigan

Designed By: Leon Hermant

Description: Carved from a solid block of white Georgia marble. Marks the final resting place of 41 men of the 339th Infantry and the 330th Engineers, most of whom came from Michigan.

Cool Fact: “To date, the Polar Bears are the only American soldiers to have directly engaged Russian troops on foot.”