This memorial is dedicated to all those who have served and all those who are currently serving in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines. The memorial was years in the planning stages and was finally dedicated in 1987 which coincided with the 212th birthday of the U.S. Navy.

Interestingly, the memorial was the dream of Pierre L’Enfant who served with General George Washington. President John Kennedy revived the plan and the naval memorial finally started to become a reality. It still took many years of dedicated fund raising and a final push by Admiral Arleigh Burke to finally bring the project to fruition.

One of the most touching tributes to sailors everywhere is The Lone Sailor, a piece of artwork done by Stanly Bleifeld. Artifacts from eight different U.S. Navy ships were included in the casting of the statue. The statue looks out over the Granite Sea which is a replica of Earth’s oceans. 26 bas-reliefs depict important events particular to the world’s navies. There are also famous sayings from naval personnel over the years which is a must see. Inside the Naval Heritage Center there are rotating exhibits and a film featuring the Blue Angels.

The U.S. Navy Memorial is open 24 hours a day. The Naval Heritage Center is open Monday through Saturday in the summer from 9:30 A.M to 5 P.M. It is closed Sundays and Mondays in the winter and also during Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year ’s Day.

The Washington Monument was built to honor George Washington. It stands in the center of the US Capital to symbolize the importance of President Washington to the country. The idea to raise the monument was first discussed in 1783. It wasn’t until 1847 that a design was agreed upon. However, that design was very different from the monument that stands today.

The obelisk was to rise above a temple that would house artifacts of American presidents and heroes. Over the years that plan was dropped, and today the obelisk is rather plain. The first cornerstone was laid in a Masonic ceremony on July 4, 1848. The same Masonic trowel that President Washington used to lay the cornerstone for the Capitol was used.

Work on the Washington Monument was slow and eventually stopped altogether during the civil war. Modifications were made to the design and work began again in 1880, with the capstone placed December 6, 1884. The hollow shaft of the monument contains an elevator to the top plus a staircase with 897 steps. There are 188 interesting, carved blocks of stone to be viewed along the staircase. There are stones from all 50 states, quarried of native stones. These stones were originally supposed to arrive with a donation attached to raise funds. Usually the stones arrived but the donation did not.

Ride the elevator to the top and walk down to view these works of art. Entrance is free, but a ticket is a must for everyone going into the monument. Get in line by 7A.M. for a ticket. One person from your party can obtain 6 tickets and pick a time to go up in the monument. Tickets can also be ordered ahead of time for a fee.

The U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) is located by the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Education about the Holocaust is accomplished by using artifacts, documents and photographs. It is a stark reminder of a horrific time in history. Even the architecture of the building was planned to remind us of a time when the world was in chaos and disarray. The USHMM was dedicated in 1993 and is one of the most visited museums in Washington.

The collection of Holocaust materials is phenomenal; artwork and artifacts alone number over 8,000 pieces. The collection also has slightly less than 80,000 photographs and 630 hours of video and film footage. Oral histories of the Holocaust number over 7,000. How incredibly important it is to get and preserve those histories while the eyewitnesses are still among us. The library has an extensive collection of yizkor or memorial books. These memorial books were made by the local towns or regions to commemorate loved ones lost in the Holocaust.

The Hall of Remembrance is very moving. Candles can be lit in remembrance and an eternal flame keeps silent vigil. If you are visiting with children, be sure to pick up the “Family Guide’ at the front desk, it will help explain this very difficult subject.

Visiting the USHMM is free. However, from March through August the museum is very busy. Timed passes will be handed out on a first come, first served basis. This is to enter the permanent exhibit, where most of the artifacts are contained. Plan on getting in line early for your pass or order tickets on line for a small fee (be sure to print the ticket out and bring it with you). The rest of the year passes are not needed as the museum is much less crowded.

The World War II Memorial has a grand design that reflects the vastness of a war that spanned the globe. Two arches at either end of the memorial are symbolic of the Pacific and Atlantic areas of fighting. 56 pillars are arranged in two semicircles around both arches that represent the United States (48 at the time of the war) the District of Columbia, plus the territories of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Philippines.

The walls between the arches and in front of the pillars depict scenes that were typical of the Pacific and European theaters of war. These are depicted in bas relief. An engraving of the ubiquitous “Kilroy Was Here” is also present. On the west side sits the Freedom Wall that contains 4,048 gold stars each one representing 100 American soldiers who died or remain missing during WWII. Behind the Freedom Wall is the Reflecting Pool on the Mall. In front of the wall is the World War II Memorial Rainbow Pool and the stars reflect in the water. It makes for a very moving scene.

The entire site sits on a little over seven acres, so wear comfortable walking shoes. Almost 2/3 of the site is water or landscaping so the components of the memorial really stand out. The site is available for visiting 24 hours a day except around Memorial Day activities. Rangers are on hand to answer questions from around 10 A.M. to 11 P.M. In addition, there is a real push to get as many WWII veterans groups to the memorial as possible. You may be lucky enough to visit at a time when one of these national treasures is visiting.

When most people think of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM), they typically envision the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. There are two other components to the memorial: The Vietnam Women’s Memorial and the Three Soldiers statue. All three components are located in Constitution Gardens of the National Mall.

The U.S. involvement in Vietnam began in 1959. The last US service man died in Vietnam on May 15, 1975. Throughout this time the country had varying degrees of support for the war. One of the precepts of the VVM was to not let any of the controversy mar the honoring of the service men and women who served during that time. Even though the memorial itself has had some controversy, time is healing the wounds. The somber reflecting wall with all the names etched into stone lets visitors to the VVM focus on the sacrifice that has been made. There are currently 58,267 names listed on the wall of service personnel that were killed in action or missing in action. There are no civilian names listed on The Wall.

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is situated just south of The Wall. It shows three uniformed women helping a wounded soldier. The women’s names are Faith, Hope and Charity. A total of 59 women died during the Vietnam War, 8 were service women, and 59 were civilians there in a support role.

The Three Soldiers portion of the VVM was created amid the controversy that surrounded The Wall. Some members of congress wanted a more traditional memorial. The bronze statues of the service members depict the soldiers wearing the common gear of the Vietnam War. They are positioned so they are looking at the names on The Wall.

The VVM is open 24 hours a day with rangers available to answer question from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. There are directories at the entrance to The Wall to help you find a specific name. There are also several websites that list the names on The Wall.

The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most famous monuments and historical places in the United States. It is a nationally recognized location that was built in honor of the Abraham Lincoln, who was the 16th President of the United States, during the bloody years of the Civil War. The monument is a fine example of a classic Greek Doric temple. Even the sculpture of the President which resides there is done in Olympic Godlike fashion. Two well known speeches from the former President are also engraved there: the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. The Lincoln Monument Association was form two years after the death of the President. Planning for the memorial, though, stretched out until 1901. The Lincoln Memorial Bill was signed by President Taft in 1911. Interestingly, the entire monument was built for $2 million dollars. Today, the site is still famous as the location for many historic speeches, like the “I have a dream” speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King. It has also been the site for many famous protests. The Monument is cared for by the National Park Service, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The monument is open 24 hours a day.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial is located in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. The memorial is to honor all those who served in the Korean conflict. The United States came to the aid of South Korea after it was invaded by North Korea at the request of the United Nations. The U.S. was divided about the war, and in fact called it a conflict rather than a war. The Korean War was a hard fought battle in brutal conditions. During the Chosin Reservoir battle the temperature plummeted to -40F.

The memorial is built in the shape of a triangle with juniper and strips of concrete simulating the rough terrain of the battle. The triangular shape represents the Field of Service. Interspersed among the juniper and concrete are 19 statues of soldiers. The soldiers are dressed in military clothing which is windblown, that recalls the harsh weather conditions. The statues are made of stainless steel. Along the south side of the memorial is a black granite wall, which reflects the statues so that it looks like there are 38 soldiers total; a nod to the 38th parallel that separates North Korea from South Korea.

The Field of Service ends in a triangular reflecting pool. Along the north side is a low wall made of granite. The names of the 22 U.N. countries that participated in the Korean War are engraved here. The memorial may be visited 24 hours a day; park rangers are available from 8A.M. to 12A.M. everyday except major holidays.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is a presidential memorial dedicated to the memory of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and to the era he represents. For the memorial's designer, landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, the memorial site represents the capstone of a distinguished career, partly because the landscape architect had fond memories of Roosevelt, and partly because of the sheer difficulty of the task. Dedicated on May 2, 1997 by President Bill Clinton, the monument, spread over 7.5 acres, traces 12 years of the history of the United States through a sequence of four outdoor rooms, one for each of FDR's terms of office. Sculptures inspired by photographs depict the 32nd president alongside his dog Fala. Other sculptures depict scenes from the Great Depression. A bronze statue of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt standing before the United Nations emblem honors her dedication to the UN. It is the only presidential memorial to depict a First Lady.

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is located in Washington, D.C. and stands on the banks of the Potomac River. It is one of the least visited memorials, probably because it is not part of The Mall, so visiting is usually relaxing. It is located just south of the White House which makes for a very scenic setting.

The idea for the memorial originated in 1901. After much debate and several design changes, the memorial was finally dedicated on April 13, 1943. That date is significant because it was the 200th celebration of Thomas Jefferson’s birth. Part of the debate surrounding the memorial is its size. There were conflicted opinions about whether the memorial was too big as opposed to those who thought Thomas Jefferson, as one of the Founding Fathers, deserved a memorial on the scale of the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial.

In the end, Jefferson’s love of classical architecture won out and the large classic structure was built. This open building with its beautiful sweeping portico is very picturesque. Under the dome, there is a 19 foot tall bronze statue of President Jefferson. This is not the statue that was present at the dedication. Bronze was in short supply during the war effort and the original statue was made of plaster and painted to look bronze. The present statue was installed four years after the dedication.

On the walls around the statue are inscriptions of Jefferson’s writings. An interesting fact for history buffs is the inscription of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Jefferson wrote “inalienable rights” but in the final document it was “unalienable rights”. In the Jefferson Memorial the inscription is as he wrote it. While the area is pretty any time of year, during cherry blossom time the site is breathtaking. The cherry trees planted around the area are a gift from the people of Japan. The Jefferson Memorial is open 24 hours a day, and rangers are present from 9AM to 11:30PM except on major holidays.