This Independence Day we want to spotlight 5 hometown veteran memorials. It’s a meaningful and powerful experience to be able to visit a memorial dedicated to your own community and the sacrifices that have been made.
Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial, Washington
Dedicated in 1918, Maryhill Stonehenge was the first WWI memorial erected in the United States. The memorial was built to honor the 14 men from Klickitat County, Washington who died while serving. The Maryhill Museum of Art continues to honor the soldiers who served by holding small ceremonies on the anniversary of their deaths.
Image: Maryhill Museum
Living Memorial Sculpture Garden California
Located off of Highway 97 in Northern California, the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden is a veterans memorial unlike any other. The park is filled with giant sculptures dedicated to showcasing the effects of war. The garden path opens with a large wall covered in the names of California veterans. They add more names to the wall every year. From the wall, the path goes on for another quarter mile and leads to 10 powerful sculptures. There are memorials dedicated to WWII nurses, the Korean War, POWs, and more.
Image: vva.org
Anthem Veterans Memorial, Arizona
The Anthem Veterans Memorial is a unique sculpture that you can only fully experience for one minute out of the year. The monument consists of 5 pillars, each one representing a branch of the military. The pillars are lined up in such a way that On November 11 at 11:11 a.m., the sun shines through them and reveals the seal of the United States on the ground.
Image: Anthem Community Council
Window Rock Navajo Memorial Park, Arizona
Window Rock Park was established in 1936 near the Navajo Nation headquarters. It sits underneath a beautiful red sandstone arch. The Veterans Memorial was established in 1995 to honor the Navajo Code Talkers that had a pivotal role in WWII. The memorial features a statue of a Code Talker with a 32-pound radio, 16 steel pillars inscribed with the names of veterans, and a healing sanctuary.
Image: Discover Navajo
Healing Field, Kentucky
Located in Lawrence, Kentucky the Healing Field is a living memorial dedicated to the Kentuckians that have lost their lives to the war on terror. There are currently 118 flags flying with a memorial plaque for each service member.
Image: Visit Lawrence
Have you visited any of these memorial sites? What is your favorite veteran memorial in your hometown? If you’d like to find a hometown memorial in your area, check out Veteran Memorials around the United States.