National WWII Monuments and an Upcoming Ceremony to Honor the Military
The 2017 HometownHero Banner Ceremony is being held on August 12 in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Attendees always say it is a heart-tugging program that is designed to honor our troops, remember veterans, and celebrate the latest Hometown Heroes. Other patriotic holidays that put the spotlight on our military members include Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. The members of our military are worth celebrating, since they put their lives on the line for our country. You don’t have to wait for a special day to honor veterans. Visit any of nine sites that are part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, located in three states.
World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
The three states where national monuments reside that are part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument are Hawaii, Alaska, and California. Each puts the spotlight on World War II, whose U.S. military members have historically been viewed with great respect for their courageous service. Since so many men and women have died protecting our freedoms, it’s good to focus our thoughts on appreciation of their valor.
9 Memorials
December 7, 1941, was the horrific day when Pearl Harbor was relentlessly attacked with Japanese air strikes. This surprise attack is the reasons the United States got involved in World War II. Five national monuments are located in Hawaii. The most well-known is the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Oahu.
Visiting the USS Arizona is a sobering occasion, since it is the resting place of 1,102 Marines and sailors killed on the USS Arizona during the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. Approximately 2 million people visit this memorial every year. It was built in 1962 and is accessible only by boat. The memorial straddles the battleship’s sunken hull, without touching it. In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the creation of the national memorial.
The memorials in Hawaii are:
- The USS Arizona Memorial
- The USS Utah Memorial
- The USS Oklahoma Memorial
- Ford Island
- Battleship Row
Memorials in Alaska are:
- Battle of Attu
- Japanese occupation of Kiska Island
- Atka B-24D Liberator, the location where a bomber intentionally crash-landed on December 9, 1942
Memorial in California:
- Tule Lake Unit in Modoc County
Get a T-Shirt to Honor Vets
“All Gave Some – Some Gave All” are powerful words spoken by Howard Osterkamp, a veteran of the Korean War. You can get these words on a t-shirt at Tactical Tees, plus there are other shirts that express the experience of veterans of various U.S. wars.
