Symbolism abounds at Washington DC memorials and monuments. They mark major events, memorialize leaders and honor individuals who have been forces of change in America and the world.
World War II Memorial Pavilion, Washington D.C.
In remembrance of the men and women who have died in the service of the United States, we observe Memorial Day the last Monday in May. During my trip to Washington DC this past week, it seemed fitting to observe the upcoming holiday by visits to the World War II, Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans memorials. I’d like to share these photos in honor of those who served in these past wars as well as those serving today for whom memorials have not yet been built.
Remembrance at Washington DC Memorials
World War II Memorial
This beautifully designed memorial is a moving tribute to those who fought in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters in World War II as well as those at home who supported the war effort. Two pavilions representing the Atlantic and Pacific theaters and 56 pillars for each state and U.S. territories are at either end of the memorial with a pool and fountain in the center.
World War II Memorial Fountain
Freedom Wall, World War II Memorial
On the Freedom Wall there are 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 who died. The words engraved in front of the wall are “Here we mark the price of freedom”.
World War II Memorial and Washington Monument
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
This was my first time at the Vietnam Memorial. I watched people touch the names of their friend or family member. Some traced the engraved name on a piece of paper. Others stood quietly in thought as they gazed at the 70 panels engraved with 58,261 names.
Visitors at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
During the Vietnam War, the daily television news reported the updated death toll. All these years later, it’s an intense feeling to see the names of the American service people behind those numbers.
Names on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
We found the name of my husband’s cousin who had died in Vietnam on this panel. I never knew him or the others whose names are shown here, but it would be hard not to feel emotional and reflect back on that terrible time in our history.
Three Soldiers, Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Just a short walk from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the Koren War Veterans Memorial where these 19 stainless steel statues represent a squad of American troops on patrol in Korea in the early 1950s.
While there, I thought that it would have been nice to be able to walk among the soldiers, but perhaps that would have made it too overwhelming. I was fascinated by the expressions of determination, concentration and bravery etched on the faces of these statues.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
The young boy walking behind the memorial makes me think about what the future holds for war and peace.
After we landed in Chicago on the first leg of our flight from Washington D.C. to San Francisco last night, a flight crew member asked us to acknowledge with applause the members of the armed services who were on board. I hope the message they got from that form of appreciation was — “Thank you for your service.”
These are many of the reasons why DC is perhaps my favorite city in the country. Great pics and tour…
Thanks, Deej. I find more to like in DC each time I visit. The memorials are awesome.
That Korean War memorial is probably one of the best tributes to veterans I’ve seen…
I agree, Raymond. It’s very different from most — almost surreal.
Great pictures Cathy! I love the Korean Ware memorial for how it looks like the soldiers are wandering through the woods. To me the Vietnam memorial is perhaps the most moving memorial I have ever seen! The first time I went I really didn’t want to go because I thought its just a wall of names. OMG was I wrong! It is heartbreaking to see people standing for hours staring at one name or seeing all the flowers laying on the ground. Extremely moving memorial!
Thanks, Debbie. At the Vietnam Memorial, you feel that each and every name is meaningful and for the family & friends, it must be very intense.
As you probably know from reading our blog, we are huge fans of these memorials. While the WWII memorial doesn’t resonate as deeply with us as, say, the Korean War Memorial (perhaps it’s too grand), we never tire of exploring these monuments.
Speaking of honoring our soldiers, we wrote a post a while back about visiting Sector 60 in Arlington National Cemetery. Yesterday, we received a comment that broke our hearts and made us want to be even more mindful of the cost of freedom. Here is the link: http://novacationrequired.com/q9SR
Thanks for the great post!
Caanan, thanks so much for posting the link. I don’t know how I missed it before. I hope others will take a few minutes to read it, too.
A very appropriate tribute to the men and women who have given their lives in service to their country. I always get very emotional visiting memorials such as this but I think it’s important to do so and pay respects. I have only been to Washington once and we visited the Vietnam Memorial but not the others. Being Canadian, one wouldn’t think that it would have an emotional impact but I was overcome by the magnitude of the memorial and the thought that so many soldiers had died during the Vietnam conflict. As I watched visitors to the Memorial tracing names and leaving objects and notes behind, I couldn’t help but sob over the loss of so many. I felt a bit foolish because I felt certain that anyone who saw would have thought that I had lost my father or close relative in the war but seeing that wall and the names going on and on and on was more than I could bear.
Lisa, thank you for sharing your personal experience of visiting the Vietnam Memorial. It was very moving for me, as well.
What a wonderfully touching post! I hope you link up this week to Friday Daydreamin’ – I loved t!!
Thanks, Becca. Linked up!
We didn’t really explore any of these monuments while in D.C. (although I do hope you were doing sit-ups while taking your pictures of the WWII memorial) but I’m fairly sure they would be high on the list when we make a second visit. The Korean memorial in particular looks very interesting. Great pictures!
Thanks, Steve. Please do visit these sites. They’re really well done tributes. I think your kids would find them very interesting and educational, too.
Love the soldier sculptures. I’ve not been to Washington yet, but will certainly search this out.
It’s an amazing memorial. I’d like to see it again — as well as the other memorials. They’re each worthy of visiting more than once.
What a fitting and wonderful post and tribute, Cathy! I’ve only visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We visited it for the first time at dusk. The mood and lighting made it a much more emotional scene for some reason than visiting during the day. I still can’t forget people putting paper over the names and scratching them with pencils as imprints. The Korean War Veterans Memorial looks like a wonderful tribute. These memorials are one of the reasons I would love to visit DC again.
The image of people tracing the names really sticks with me, too. Very powerful memorial.
I’ve been to Washington on Memorial Day and experienced a remarkable and sincere solemnity. One of the strongest memories is the near silence when thousands of motorbikes cruised through the city
Thank you so much for linking this post with us!!
Have a super weekend!
My pleasure. Thanks!
Very artistic, and perhaps a little scary, the Korean monument.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial really evokes many emotions. It certainly makes one think.
This is a beautiful post Cathy and a reminder of the horrors of war. I find the Korean monument to be the most interesting probably because it’s so life like.
Thanks, Leigh. I really appreciate memorials like these because it is so important for us to remember. The Korean memorial is so unusual — makes you try to imagine what it was like to actually be there.
A very moving photo journey through these epic memorials my friend. I have never seen them up close like this and your photography captures them beautifully, especially the last one with the statue and little boy…what a moment you caught and without expressing a single word, the picture speaks a thousand words!
Thanks so much, Jeff. That last photo really strikes me, too.
The only time I visited DC I went in uniform. I was on my 10 days of boot leave in 2001. It was September. People at the Wall came up and thanked me for my service. The guards at the White House smiled at me. Couple of guys jogging past the Lincoln Memorial asked me how I did on my rifle qual at (sharpshooter). It was a pretty amazing introduction to our nation’s capital. A few days later I was checking in to MCT at Camp Lejeune. It was September 11th. Strange times, strange times indeed.
Thanks for sharing that story, Katrina. September 11 was so intense for us all, but I can only imagine what it was like to be in the armed forces and at Camp Lejeune during that time. Thank you for your service.
Powerful photos, Cathy. Those statues at the Korean War Memorial gave me goosebumps.
My Dad is a WWll Vet. He was in Europe for the entire war, and came home 🙂 He’ll be 90 next year, so you know were I’ll be next summer!
That’s exactly the physical reaction I had at the memorial. I salute your dad today, too!
I haven’t been to the WW2 memorial. It’s nice that you highlighted these memorials..it’s so important for us to think about those young people who gave their lives.
It is important to remember those who have sacrificed so much, including their lives. Thanks for your comment, Jenna.
I love the idea of tracing lost loved ones names on paper., moving stuff. The Korean one is really quite spooky and affecting too.
Thanks, Jools. Very moving, indeed to watch as people do that.
Great pictures! When I visited DC years ago, I really enjoyed walking around that area and taking in all the monuments. I was surprised how many different ones there were for different wars.
Thanks, Sabrina. Washington is full of memorials & monuments. I’m grateful for that.
Love all those statues of soldiers standing around, it makes it different from the other memorials. I hope other cities would honor their heroes too.
It’s always nice to see that there are special events taking place all over the country on Memorial Day in addition to the BBQs and holiday get-togethers.
A beautifully done, a perfectly timely tribube post. Very nice!
Thanks, Jackie — thanks for your kind words.
That first shot is beautiful, Cathy.
I lived in Washington, DC and love going back. Each time we do the memorials, I come back feeling emotionally drained. The Korean War Memorial packs a wallop. It makes it so real. The beauty of the Vietnam War memorial is its simplicity — it’s like touching the soldier who’s remembered. The WW II Memorial is really stunning. It just stops you in your tracks.
You put it perfectly about feeling emotionally drained after visits to these memorials. About touching the wall at the Vietnam Memorial – I couldn’t agree more. The name etched on stone is something tangible that may offer some comfort.
It must definitely bring comfort.
Oh, and I love all the photos Cathy, not just the first one.
They are such beautiful monuments. What a lovely way to commemorate the fallen and honour them. Wish we had gone to DC now on our drive across USA.
There are so many great monuments in Washington D.C. I have been there several times and still haven’t seen all of these! I would like to see the WW 2 memorial for memories of my grandpa.
Pingback: Capital Ideas Washington DC | Traveling with Sweeney
Washington, DC, is a place I’d like to spend more time in. My favourite monument is the Jefferson Memorial. I’d really like to go there during the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Gee, Cathy, it almost seems cheating to use Washington D.C. for the FRIFOTO symbols theme. It is PACKED! I particularly liked the Korean memorial. I have not seen it in person, and had not seen photos that captured it this well.
You have some beautiful shots of the memorials- especially the WWII with that upwards angle! Amazing! The Korean Memorial is beautifully haunting at night. Also, FDR is really nice, with all the fountains and art/sculptures.