The Memorial
The Memorial sits within a large five pointed star with a flagpole and a black granite monolith, representing each branch of service, positioned at each point. Each monolith displays the great seal of a branch of service on one side and, engraved on the other side, a saluting serviceman and picture pertaining to this branch. Positioned in the center of the star is a larger flagpole, which flies the American flag. There is a smaller star, just off the main star, with another flagpole, flying the POW/MIA flag. There is also a black granite monolith engraved on one side with the POW/MIA symbol and on the other side a figure in a POW Camp.
The Memorial is flanked by an Historical Walk. This walk approaches the main memorial area and continues to the opposite side of the grounds and is lined with black granite markers. The markers list every armed conflict, recognized by Congress, beginning with the Revolutionary War. These Conflict Stones are engraved with the name of each conflict, years of involvement, number of U.S. Military Personnel involved and number of U.S. casualties.
Memorial Day weekend is a busy time at the Veterans Memorial. The annual Memorial Day Ceremony, held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, includes participants from many area veterans’ organizations, VFW, American Legion, Viet Now, and Color Guards which line the walk in front of the Conflict Stones. Each year representatives from the 173rd Airborne Brigade perform the Table Ceremony, symbolic of those military personnel who did not return home. Guest speakers have included several Congressional Medal of Honor recipients as well as Senators, Representatives and other dignitaries. For the past several years, the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command Band and Choir have performed along with the Weary Warriors Squadron and Lima Lima Flight Team. Veterans Day Each Veterans Day the Commission hosts a Ceremony at the Memorial to honor all veterans of the Armed Forces. This ceremony is much simpler and more intimate than the Memorial Day Ceremony. Veterans Day 1999 was the first year that local Boy and Girl Scout Troops brought their flags to participate in the Ceremony. Eighteen Scout Color Guards and over 120 Scouts participated. The Veterans Memorial Commission looks upon this as an opportunity to educate our children on the military history of our great nation.
Ya'll come now, ya hear?