Veterans Day is a time for honoring members of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to parades and other annual events honoring veterans, here are some of the most historically relevant places to learn about, and honor those who served all year round.
The Bomber Restaurant
If you want to grab a bite with some vets, there’s no better place to do it than at The Bomber, one of the most incredible mom and pop diners in Oregon. Perched outside this restaurant is the business’ namesake, a full-size B17 Bomber. The restaurant has turned into a de facto museum with walls lined with memorabilia from WWII.
USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is located on the USS Midway, the longest serving aircraft carrier of this century. It's docked in San Diego, a city that is rich in naval aircraft history. Admission includes a guided audio tour that takes visitors throughout the ship, from the engine room and flight control to the galley and the brig.
Pima Air and Space Museum
Pay your respects to some of the hardest working planes that the military has seen at the Pima Air and Space Museum. Don't miss out on the bus tour to the AMARG, the airplane boneyard where thousands of decommissioned planes sit. The highlight of the hour-and-a-half tour is "Celebrity Row," which features some of the most illustrious planes in the whole graveyard.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
South Dakota is the setting for one of the most top secret projects in the U.S., a field of 150 Minuteman II nuclear missiles, armed and ready for launch at a moments notice during the Cold War. The missile field lies in the shadow of Mount Rushmore but in the 1990s, the whole site was unarmed and preserved as an educational site for future generations.
Liberty Memorial
Home to the National World War I Museum, featuring artifacts, interactive displays, and more, Liberty Memorial is worth a visit at night when the top of the tower is lit up.
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg is the kind of place you could make a quick stop, or spend a full day exploring. The battlefield roads make it easy to drive from one monument or site to the next.
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is located Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Laid to rest within its 624 acres are the dead of all of the nation's conflicts beginning with the Civil War, alongside Presidents and prominent military figures.
Dedicated on October 5, 2014, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is the most recent of several memorials located on or near the National Mall to honor those who served. The first national memorial dedicated exclusively to disabled veterans comprises 48 glass panels, a star-shaped fountain and reflecting pool, granite walls, a tree grove, and large bronze sculptures.
The World War II Memorial honors the service of 16 million members of the Armed Forces, the support of women and others on the home front, and the deaths of 405,399 Americans.
Located near the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1995 and features a Wall of Remembrance and 19 stainless steel statues depicting soldiers in combat.
The main feature of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a black granite wall etched with the names of 58,318 Americans who died or went missing in action from 1959 until May 15, 1975.
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the world’s largest living history museum. The Revolutionary City is a mile-long restored 18th century outpost where visitors can explore to the tune of drums, fifes, and whistles.
Banner Photo Credit: Flickr/Derek Key
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