“We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give, and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty, though it never was. Most of all, we remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled their nation as they became champions of a noble cause.” — Ronald Reagan

With Veterans Day coming up this weekend, we wanted to share a list of the monuments that memorialize our heroes and the stories behind them. From all of us at Frazer Consultants, Happy Veterans Day to all who have served, and thank you for your sacrifice!

1. Tomb of The Unknown Soldier

On November 11th, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unknown soldier from WWI. The white marble sarcophagus would become a monument to the unknown soldiers who died in WWI. Congress would later construct unknown soldier monuments for soldiers who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. The monument bears the inscription, “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

2. USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial marks the final resting place of more than 1,100 marines and soldiers killed in Pearl Harbor. The memorial was constructed in 1962 and receives more than two million annual visitors. The inscription inside the memorial reads, “To the Memory of the Gallant Men Here Entombed and their shipmates who gave their lives in action on December 7, 1941, on the U.S.S. Arizona.”

3. Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington serves as the final resting place of U.S. soldiers dating as far back as the Civil War. The first military funeral held at the cemetery was for William Henry Christman on May 13th, 1864. The first-ever Memorial Day service took place on May 30th, 1929.

4. Korean War Veterans Memorial

The Korean War Veterans Memorial is an outdoor monument in Washington, D.C. It’s located near the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial was finished in 1995. It commemorates the sacrifices of more than five million Americans who served during the war.

5. The National World War II Memorial

The National World War II Memorial was opened in 2004 and receives around four million annual visitors. The inscription dedicated to the memorial reads, “Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and the other the nineteenth century preserver our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice.”

6. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

The iconic Vietnam Memorial Wall consists of three parts. There’s the Memorial Wall, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, and the Soldiers Statue. About 58,300 names of the soldiers who served are engraved on the Memorial Wall.

7. Marine Corps Memorial

The Marine Corps Memorial is in Arlington County, Virginia depicts the famous photograph of the Marines raising the flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The memorial honors the sacrifices of every marine that’s served since 1775.

8. National Memorial Arch

The National Memorial Arch was built in 1917. It honors George Washington and the Continental Army as they reached Valley Forge. The inscription on the memorial is from a letter of George Washington that reads, “Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable Patience and Fidelity of the Soldiery.”

9. Airforce Memorial

The U.S. Airforce Memorial was built in 2006. The design of the memorial consists of three stainless steel arcs. These arcs mimic the contrails of the Air Force Thunderbirds in their “bomb burst” maneuver.

10. African American Civil War Memorial

The memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to the 209,145 African American soldiers who fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. The bronze sculpture, The Spirit Of Freedom, was dedicated to the memorial in 2008.

11. Women in Military Service for America Memorial

This memorial honors the sacrifice of women who have defended the United States throughout history. It’s the only major national memorial of its kind. It’s located at the west end of Memorial Avenue and serves as an entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

12. American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

Built in 2014, the memorial is another first of its kind. It honors veterans left permanently disabled during the service of their country. The memorial features 48 glass panels etched with photos and personal stories from disabled veterans.

13. Liberty Memorial

The Liberty Memorial is in Kansas City, Missouri. Built in 1926, it honors the veterans who served in WWI. The inscription above the doors leading to the WWI exhibit read, “Lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen.”

Have you visited any of the above monuments? Share your story with us in the comments! Happy Veterans Day!