If you’re looking for a new way to honor the nearly 25 million United States vets this coming Veterans Day, consider a trip to one of these profound memorials, museums and battlefields in cities across the country. From Arlington, Virginia, to Honolulu, Hawaii, our list of Top 10 places to visit on Veterans Day will offer new perspectives on being a veteran and the chance to honor those, current and past, who have served in the US military.
Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington, VA
Arlington National Cemetery is an overwhelming and powerful place for any visitor, whether you have a personal connection there or not. The resting place to more than 250,000 American heroes, the cemetery is also home to the eternal flame at John F. Kennedy’s grave and other monuments like the famous Iwo Jima memorial. The national Veterans Day ceremonies take place every year at the Tomb of the Unknowns, including the laying of a presidential wreath and playing of Taps. Whether visitors go there to honor loved ones or see the historical sites, everyone leaves with a profound feeling patriotism and gratitude to the people who serve. Search and compare cheap flights to Arlington.
USS Arizona – Honolulu, Hawaii
Under the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor in Honolulu lies the USS Arizona battleship, sunk during the historical raid that sparked the United States’ entry into war with Japan in 1941. Beneath the heavy steel doors is the resting place of 1,102 sailors. Accessible by ferry, the memorial itself is a large white hall that floats across the width of the ship with large openings on both sides for visitors to peer into the crystal blue waters and view the ship below. Oil can still be seen trickling from the ship which is now referred to as “tears of the Arizona.” The USS Arizona is a deeply moving memorial that brings each visitor closer to the Pearl Harbor tragedy and to the lives of the sailors lost. Search and compare cheap flights to Honolulu.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall – Washington, DC
When 21-year-old, Chinese-American student Maya Lin won a public competition for the design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, it caused quite a controversy. Now, the reflective black wall, adorned with the names of almost 60,000 fallen soldiers, has become one of the most renowned memorials in the country. The wall is so polished that is reflects anyone looking into it, symbolic in bringing together deceased soldiers and visitors; the past and the present. Rubbings are done by loved ones and anything left at the wall, like flowers or stuffed animals, is cataloged and stored, never to be discarded. If seeing the Wall doesn’t fit into your schedule, consider visiting one of the two traveling walls, in Tempe, Arizona, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, this Veterans Day. Search and compare cheap flights to Washington, DC.
Liberty Memorial – Kansas City, MO
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally dedicated to sustaining world peace after what had been one of history’s most devastating wars: World War I. Liberty Memorial is dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the First World War and also home to the National World War I Museum. The most prominent exhibit at the museum is known as the Western Front Poppy Field, which houses 9,000 poppy flowers representing the 9 million combatant deaths. This November 11, the museum will hold its Veterans Day ceremony complete with the traditional laying of the wreath as well as keynote speakers and music performances. Admission for all visitors on Veterans Day is free. Search and compare cheap flights to Kansas City.
Gettysburg Battlefield – Gettysburg, PA
The last war to be fought on American soil was the Civil War, and one of its most renowned battles was that of Gettysburg, where around 50,000 casualties were suffered. Now visitors can step back in time and stroll through the battlefields, see where Lincoln delivered his famous “Gettysburg Address” at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, tour the museum and even horseback ride along the trails. For a war that was so long ago, Gettysburg is the place where it becomes real and the sacrifices soldiers made become tangible. The gentle hills and scenic beauty of Gettysburg seems to appropriately balance its tragic history. Search and compare cheap flights to Philadelphia.
National Veterans Art Museum – Chicago, IL
A provocative and poignant museum dedicated to the display of artwork by veterans, the National Veterans Art Museum allows visitors to get a new perspective on what it means to serve for the United States. Originally created to showcase art from Vietnam soldiers, the museum has expanded and now includes work from all veterans, including the Gulf War, War on Terror and other conflicts. This Veterans Day will be the opening of the Radical Vulnerability show, but visitors should also check out other exhibits, especially the famed Above and Beyond Memorial where the dog tags of fallen Vietnam soldiers, all 58,226 of them, dangle from the ceiling like wind chimes. Search and compare cheap flights to Chicago.
Navajo Nation Veterans Memorial Park – Window Rock, AZ
During World War II, the Navajo Code Talkers were considered one of the United States greatest assets, providing the military with a code that was never broken by any of its enemies. Navajo soldiers have been serving for the United States ever since, including in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 1995 a group of Navajo Vietnam veterans, Code Talkers and shamans built the Navajo Nation Veterans Memorial Park to honor the efforts of Navajo soldiers. Once inside the park, visitors can walk under the 16 steel pillars that symbolize bayonets shielding those strolling beneath, see the statue dedicated to the Navajo Code Talkers of WWII, and check out the natural rock formation known as Window Rock. Search and compare cheap flights to Albuquerque.
African American Civil War Memorial & Museum – Washington, DC
Though it was 150 years ago, the conclusion of the American Civil War still represents a significant change in the political and social foundation of the United States, and the African American Civil War Memorial pays tribute to the African American troops who helped create that change. The memorial, known as The Spirit of Freedom, is a nine-foot bronze wall across the street from the African American Civil War Museum. The convex side of the sculpture depicts the fighting African American troops while the concave side illustrates the enslaved families. At the museum, visitors can view records and photographs of the troops who served in the Civil War to help them better understand what life was like for those brave soldiers. This Veterans Day the museum will have a wreath-laying ceremony at 11am as well. Search and compare cheap flights to Washington DC.
Veterans Day Parade – New York, NY
Veterans Day parades are a great way for towns and cities to honor its servicemen and women, and, if you find yourself in the New York City area, become a part of the largest Veterans Day event in the country. Every year, from 11am to 2pm, more than 20,000 participants march from 23rd to 59th streets up Fifth Avenue in celebration and remembrance. Coinciding with the tenth anniversary of Sept 11, the parade will also commemorate the heroic efforts and lives lost during the tragic attack. Veterans travel from across the country to partake in the parade festivities, and at this year’s celebration both the newest and oldest Medal of Honor recipients will be in attendance. Search and compare cheap flights to New York.
Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum – Mount Pleasant, SC
The home of the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, USS Laffey, USS Clagamore submarine, Cold War Memorial, Medal of Honor museum and several other retired military aircraft and vessels, Patriots Place considers itself to be a “hands on history lesson.” This museum is the perfect place for both kids and adults to experience and appreciate what the life of a naval sailor is like, especially during times of war. And, of course, it’s not just troops that fight the battles. If you’re an animal lover, be sure to check out the memorial dedicated to fallen war dogs. There are countless events taking place at Patriots Place year-round, but be sure to check out the weekend -long Veterans Day celebration, occurring right on the mouth of the Charleston Harbor. Search and compare cheap flights to Charleston.
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(Images: James McCauley, Timothy Tolle, matt.herzog, Ed Coyle, fauxto_digit, nvvam.org, Scott Moore, NYCMarines, Thomas Gaume)
