Virginia War Memorial facts for kids
The Virginia War Memorial is a special place in Richmond, Virginia. It was first opened in 1955. It was built to remember people from Virginia who died fighting in World War II and the Korean War.
Later, in 1980, the memorial grew. It started to honor Virginians who died in the Vietnam War. In 1996, names from the Desert Storm and Desert Shield were added too. Today, almost 12,000 Virginians have their names carved on the memorial's glass and stone walls.
Because wars have changed, Virginia also made a special Shrine. This part honors over 250 Virginians who died in the Global War on Terrorism.
The memorial also has a video series called Virginians at War. This series and other efforts have made the memorial well-known. They help share the important message of the "Price of Freedom". More staff and volunteers joined to help with many visitors. They also help with the growing number of educational programs.
In 2008, over 21,000 people visited the memorial. They came from 45 states and 21 countries. The building was getting too small. Sometimes, groups could not get in. Individual visitors could not get help because there was only one auditorium. This room was used for both education and meetings. The memorial is also used by soldiers for special events. These include homecomings, re-enlistments, and promotions.
To help with the many visitors, a new education center was planned. This center would offer more learning chances for students and visitors. It would also provide better services for everyone. A big new building was designed. It would be an 18,000 square foot education center. This new space would let many groups learn and take part in patriotic programs. It would also welcome tourists exploring one of Virginia's treasures.
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What the Memorial Does
The Virginia War Memorial is Virginia's special place to honor its heroes. It remembers the men and women from Virginia. They bravely served and fought to protect our way of life. This includes wars from World War II up to today.
Education for Everyone
The memorial also has an Education Center. This center is a top place in Virginia for learning about war. It teaches about Virginia's experiences in wars from the start of our country until now.
The Virginia War Memorial offers many programs. These include talks, special items, and research materials. They also show the Virginians at War videos. There are exhibitions, seminars, and ceremonies too. All these things help keep the memory alive. They remind everyone about our nation's promise to freedom.
The memorial's motto is: "Honoring our Veterans, Preserving our History, Educating our Youth, and Inspiring Patriotism in All."
Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center
In October 2007, the leaders of the Memorial made an announcement. The new education center would be named after two American heroes. Their names are Paul and Phyllis Galanti. Both of them served the United States in amazing ways. They served during and after the Vietnam War.
By teaching today's kids and future generations, Virginia creates a lasting tribute. It honors the state's sons and daughters who served our country. The Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center makes sure their brave actions are never forgotten. They protected our freedoms and the freedoms of others.
Visiting the Virginia War Memorial
Visiting the Virginia War Memorial can be a powerful experience. When you walk inside, you will see many things.
Displays and Meanings
First, you might see a display cabinet. It is full of battle coins. These coins remember Claiborne G. Thomasson. He showed great leadership in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1969.
As you look around, you will find a room with displays from many wars. There is information about the American Revolution, the Mexican War, and the American Civil War. You can also learn about the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II. The Korean War and Vietnam War are also covered. Each display has a timeline. It shows when the war started, important events, and when it ended.
The memorial is set up in a beautiful and informative way. You will also see words hanging from the ceiling. These words are: Sacrifice, Integrity, Discipline, Patriotism, Duty, Courage, and Loyalty. These are all important qualities for soldiers. Each word has its meaning explained.
There are also smaller displays for each war. These show uniforms and weapons. They also give more information about the war. You might see a bulletin board with letters from the battlefield. Soldiers from every war felt many emotions when they were far from home.
Stories and Art
One letter you might read was from a soldier named Mike. He wrote to his mom, dad, and Erin. He said that God was protecting him and his unit. They did not have serious injuries. He also prayed for the war to end soon. He wanted to leave that hard place and come home to his family. It was a very heartfelt letter. Many more letters are on the wall.
Outside, you can see the Veterans Impact Project. This is a sculpture made of different items. These items were important to veterans and community members. The objects were pressed into rubber. This created a wall of clay. The sculpture has three parts. In front of them are panels honoring veterans. These panels show their names, rank, military branch, and years of service.
There is a very large wall with names written on it. These are the names of soldiers who died in World War II, the Persian Gulf, Vietnam, and Korea. You will also see a huge statue of a lady named Memory.
Special Rooms and Artifacts
There is a theater called the Reynolds Theater. Here, you can watch videos about the wars. There is also a conference room named Darrell J. Schumann.
The memorial has a Research Library. You can also see a display of guns and uniforms from the National Guard in World War I. There is even a piece of the West Wall of the Pentagon. On September 11, 2001, terrorists crashed a plane into the Pentagon. This happened in Arlington, Virginia. All 64 people on the plane died, and 125 people at the Pentagon were killed. The artifact is a piece of the wall from where the plane crashed. The damaged parts of the Pentagon were rebuilt in 2002. This exhibit honors and remembers those Americans.
The next room is called Freedom Hall. It has the Wall of Honor. This wall shows Virginia's heroes from the Global War on Terrorism. It has their pictures, rank, hometown, and where they served. The room is full of many pictures.
There is also a display about Women in Naval Aviation. It shows pictures, uniforms, and helmets. It talks about Kathy Purdy Owens and Marti Bissell.
Russell's Flight
One very interesting display is called Russell's Flight. It has an airplane hanging from the ceiling. There is a small figure of a man on the back of it. Russell served in the Army Air Forces starting in 1943. One day, he was flying when his plane was hit by enemy fire. The pilot told everyone to jump out of the damaged plane. Russell found his escape door was stuck. He went to the back of the plane to open the tail gun dome. He climbed onto the rear wing and held on tight. Then, he let go. He fell through the air and opened his parachute. He fell backward, and the landing broke his back.
German soldiers captured him. He spent 11 months in a German Prisoner of War camp. On his 95th birthday, the Virginia War Memorial honored Russell Scott for his service. They also thanked him for being a volunteer at the Memorial for many years. Even today, he still comes every Wednesday to volunteer at the Virginia War Memorial.
