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There are some truly amazing memorials out there, whether in Washington, DC, at a hometown location, OCONUS, or anywhere else around the world; many are epic works of art in their own right, some are well known (with a national or international audiences), while others quietly tell their story relatively unknown to the masses. So, what's your most memorable military or military-related display or memorial? Where's it located and how/why does it move you? What is it that you find most compelling about the memorial or location? What makes this particular place or time unique, interesting, thought-provoking, moving, or special to you? Please feel free to share your stories, photographs, links, video or anything else needed to tell your story. This should be both fun and informative, and we'll get to learn a bit of history, context, and a little bit about each other in the process; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!
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Motivation
Memorial
Motivation Memorial
Edited 10 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 110
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For a case of willies, Hair sticking up on the back of your neck would be the Arizona Memorial. It is still leaking oil and the oil leaks up and sometimes has a reddish hue. She is still bleeding and you can still feel the presence of the crew.
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LTC Stephen C.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel, Navsource.org characterizes crew status thusly: "1,177 Officers and Men were lost with the ship and remain on duty inside her rusting hulk."
Col (Join to see)
Col (Join to see)
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THE PLAUGE HONORING USS SCORPION IN NORFOLK Va AND THEN SUBMARINE SCHOOL GROTON Conn
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Col (Join to see)
PO1 Farrell, thanks for posting, great choices... thanks again for sharing!
A Groton memorial honors World War II submarine veterans and the more than 3,600 submariners who lost their lives during the conflict. The largest feature of
Capt. Mary Etta Bishop Nolan, daughter of USS Scorpion (SSN 589) Chief of the Boat, Chief Torpedoman's Mate Walter William Bishop, shows a plaque she was presented with by the USS Scorpion Memorial ...
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CMC Robert Young
I had a chance to visit the National Submarine Memorial East while attending a course at the Coast Guard Leadership Development Center in New London. Got to see the Nautilus as well. Absolutely a can't miss if you're in the are in the seagoing services and are in the area!
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LTC Stephen C.
CMC Robert Young, I've toured the USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in Groton. Most impressive! I've also toured the USS Drum (SS 228), a WWII era submarine, located in Mobile, AL. U-505, a German U boat in Chicago, is on my bucket list!
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I have to say the Iwo Jima Memorial is my favorite. I was fortunate enough to visit Iwo Jima and stood at the exact spot where the famous photo was taken. Looking down on invasion beach and how steep Mt. Suribachi is I have nothing but admiration for those men who fought so hard to get to the top and raise our glorious flag.
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Col (Join to see)
Senior Chief, great choice, I once had the privilege of being reenlisted at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA/Wash., DC, amazing memorial and story behind it; if you haven't already read it, I highly recommend "Flags of Our Fathers," awesome book. Definitely agree, thanks for posting... great memorial!
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While all the one's I've seen have special meaning, I'd have to say my uncle's headstone at the RI Vets Cemetery means the most to me.
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SSG William Patton
I am like you in the memorial that means the most to me personally. My dad's oldest brother lays in peace, finally, in the National Cemetary in Springfield,MO. I grew up in the shadow of this great man and share his name. He was listed as MIA for 56 years from the time his P-51 fighter went down in a bog in France on the border with Belgium, until he was found in Feb. 2001 and later buried with full military honors on Veterans' Day 2001. He lived the war from his time in HIckham Field, Hawaii until his death, rising from a private E-1 to a 1st Lt. He was highly decorated including the DFC, 4 Bronze Stars w/V, 2 Air Medals w/V and the Purple Heart. He flew the same top secret mission Lt. Joe Kennedy was killed flying. Kennedy flew the fifth mission, my uncle flew the eight mission. When his body was located all members of his immediate family had already united with him and it was the honor of neices and nephews to lay him to rest. His simple memorial means the most to me because it illustrates the sacrifice many American families have made to keep our nation free.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Wow, that's an amazing story!! Thank you to you and your family for all of your service and for sharing this. My uncle - also my father's older brother was a Korean War vet. I chose to go to Korea for my first tour because of him. He passed away while I was in OBC, about 5 months shy of me reaching Korea so I never got the chance to trade war stories with him. He was a big influence in my formative years.
I worked with an NCO who's dad was MIA in Vietnam until his remains were found. Like your uncle, he too was buried with full military honor here in RI. Just being able to attend the service and see the family & their reactions to this unique and moving experience sent shivers up my spine.
Just seeing that simple stone on hallowed ground means everything good about this country to me.
I worked with an NCO who's dad was MIA in Vietnam until his remains were found. Like your uncle, he too was buried with full military honor here in RI. Just being able to attend the service and see the family & their reactions to this unique and moving experience sent shivers up my spine.
Just seeing that simple stone on hallowed ground means everything good about this country to me.
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SSG William Patton
Our stories of our beloved uncles are very similar. I was not fortunate to be able to get to know my uncle personally, but I feel I know him through the stories shared in the family's orag tradition. When my uncle's body was located, I learned he was one of thousands who are still missing from WWII. Now we can add MIAs from Korea and Viet Nam. I wear a bracelet of an MIA brother, who went missing during Tet of 68 near the Parrot's Beak north of Saigon. We must never rest until all the family's who sacrificed loved ones, can obtain closure. I remember the anguish my grandmother felt for not knowing what happened to her first born. In some ways she saw me as a pseudo replacement for him. I cannot count the times she would call me using his name. As I grew older I began to understand and stopped correcting her. If it helped her, I was glad to help anyway possible to ease her pain. I firmly believe one day we will be able to know our loved ones again and I await that day. Thank you sir for your service and the service you family has given this great nation. God Bless you and God Bless America.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
This memorial is so haunting to me because when I've been there, you can almost feel the "presence" of these ghostly soldiers trudging along - VERY powerful to me!
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Major, that's a tough one sir... but here's a couple that have become very personal to me.
One is a pic I took on my last deployment, it's one of the best tributes that I've seen to our POWs and MIAs.
The other of course is the Fallen Warrior Memorial; my Wingman snapped the other photo as I was pausing for a moment of prayer, silence, and reflection in remembrance of a dear friend and brother-in-arms.
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This might be surprising, since it't not an Army memorial and I'm all about the Army, but the USS Arizona memorial for me. I went out that way right before I got out (had to make use of the Hale Koa before I lost the privilege). Something about standing over that big hulk, seeing it still bleeding into the harbor, and know there are still hundreds of service members entombed right below you, right where they spent their last watch, and where the enemy came for them.
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Col (Join to see)
SPC Morehouse, thanks for your response, I absolutely agree, this is an incredible memorial, thanks again for sharing your thoughts and experiences!
http://www.nps.gov/valr/index.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrEu-iASaqk
World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument at Pearl Harbor is comprised of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and five different historic sites. In addition to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, t...
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MAJ (Join to see)
I chose a trip to the USS Arizona over a helicopter guided lava tube trip during a mid-tour break with my family. Very moving experience. I recommend this site to anyone that gets the opportunity to visit Hawaii.
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Col (Join to see)
PO2 Haga, very true, for those who've visited it is a truly moving experience, for those who served in Vietnam I'm certain it is a truly profound experience. Excellent choice, thanks for sharing!
Information on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) on The National Mall
Database of the 58,195 Names on The Wall in Wash,D.C. This is the most accurate database online. Military Reunions, Screensavers, Rubbings, Personal Guestbook for all Names
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SSG (Join to see)
PO2 Haga I have to agree with you I lived near Washington DC growing up and the wall was and is today my favorite memorial to visit it is truly a place that puts things in perspective.
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Col (Join to see)
SSG Bains, thanks for posting, I certainly have to agree, an absolutely amazing memorial... thanks again for sharing!
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La maggior parte delle scene di guerra sono quelle proiettate nel Centro Visitatori del Cemetery and Memorial ad Omaha Beach; alcune sono invece del film Sav...
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MAJ (Join to see)
I can't wait for the opportunity to visit and pay respect. It seemed so serene, even though I've only seen through the eyes of "Saving Private Ryan"
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