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USA Today
23-05-2025
- USA Today
Celebrate veterans by adding these patriotic sites to your summer road trip
Celebrate veterans by adding these patriotic sites to your summer road trip Vanessa Marquette of Syracuse, N.Y., comes from a long line of service members. Both of her grandfathers fought in World War II, as did her great-uncle. Her mother and father served in the Air Force. Her nephew serves in the Navy. And her husband serves in the New York Army National Guard, having previously served eight years in the Army. 'Literally everyone in my family, pretty much, has served,' says Marquette, who has made it her personal mission to document the history of her relatives' service. 'People need to remember the generations that served before us, and I feel like it's my duty to help them do that by learning about them and sharing what they went through.' Although she does lots of online research, the internet isn't the only place Marquette goes to learn about American heroes. She also likes visiting museums, monuments and memorials that commemorate veterans. 'It's one thing to learn about this type of history in textbooks. But it's totally different when you're experiencing it in real time,' says Marquette, who shares her passion for military tourism on TikTok, where she posts under the handle @travelingdoglover, and at a travel blog she produces with her best friends. Military tourism is as much about supporting today's veterans as it is about remembering yesterday's, says military spouse and frequent traveler Chelsey Thomas, operator of a blog and website offering resources for military families. 'The sacrifices made by military members and their families are easy to forget when you aren't living it. We see homecomings on the news, but you rarely see the departure or the challenges in between or upon returning home,' says Thomas, whose husband, Michael, has served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 10 years. 'Many sacrifices that are made are very personal, but it is impactful to know that … they are honored and remembered by the country.' Marquette and Thomas agree that every American can show gratitude to those who serve through the simple act of visiting places that pay tribute to them. Summer vacations are the perfect opportunity. If you're planning a summer road trip or weekend getaway, consider adding to your itinerary one or more of the following patriotic places. Even a short pitstop could make a big difference to Americans in uniform: NORTHEAST The Northeast is rich with military history. One of the nation's most famous military sites is Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Visitors can watch battle reenactments, view artillery and cavalry demonstrations, and tour the battlefield where as many as 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured or missing during the Civil War's bloodiest battle. While you're in Pennsylvania, check out the Steelworkers Veterans Memorial at the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem and the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. Located on the former grounds of Bethlehem Steel, the former honors steelworkers-turned-soldiers as well as those who stayed behind to forge precious wartime steel for tanks, aircraft and battleships during World Wars I and II. The latter tells the powerful story of the Revolutionary War and the brave colonists who fought it. New York also has scores of military sites. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, for instance, is America's oldest military school and oldest continuously occupied military post, and its museum, West Point Museum, boasts the largest diversified collection of military artifacts in the United States, including items such as George Washington's pistols and a World War I tank. There's also the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, whose mission is sharing the stories of Purple Heart recipients; the Niagara Falls Veterans Memorial in Niagara Falls, which is the largest granite monument dedicated to veterans outside the Washington Beltway; and Fort Ticonderoga in Ticonderoga, where American forces had their first offensive victory against the British in the Revolutionary War. Elsewhere in the region, check out Memorial Park in Providence, Rhode Island, a sculpture-filled park honoring Americans who died during the Korean War and World Wars I and II, and the Wright Museum of World War II in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, which has more than 14,000 items in its collection. The National Coast Guard Museum in New London, Connecticut, will celebrate members of the U.S. Coast Guard when it opens in 2026. SOUTHEAST Because it encompasses the nation's capital and many of its largest military communities, the Southeast has a huge number of military tourism sites. Bucket-list spots include the National Mall in Washington, DC – home to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the World War I Memorial and the World War II Memorial – and Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, where you can pay respects to thousands of fallen service members, including those memorialized at the powerful Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Also in Arlington is the Military Women's Memorial, honoring the contributions of 3 million women who have served in or with the U.S. military since the American Revolution. Other spots of note in Washington include the National Guard Memorial Museum and the National Museum of the U.S. Navy. Nearby, you'll find the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, and the National Museum of the United States Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The capital region is just the tip of the iceberg, though. In Bedford, Virginia, there is the National D-Day Memorial honoring American D-Day veterans. And in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the world's largest flying collections of World War I- and II-era military aircraft are found at the Military Aviation Museum. Worth seeing further south are Alabama's Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, honoring the Black airmen who served in World War II; the poignant history memorializing American prisoners of war at Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia; and the spectacular National WWII Museum in New Orleans, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, as well as the 80th anniversary of V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, the day that marked the end of the war in Europe. MIDWEST The famously warm Midwest welcome extends to veterans and Americans who want to salute them at sites like the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, which claims to be the only museum in the world that celebrates and shares the stories of veterans from all times of U.S. history and from all branches of the military. Don't miss the incredible city views from its rooftop; the gorgeous rainbow windows in its Gold Star Remembrance Gallery, which represent the colors of military service ribbons honoring those who died in service; or the newly opened 2.5-acre Memorial Grove, featuring a grove of elm trees with a 325‑foot‑long stone wall, three water cascades and a reflection pool. Veterans also receive a grand reception in Indianapolis thanks to the 284-foot Soldiers & Sailors Monument that honors Indiana service members. There's an observation deck with panoramic city views, as well as a nightly signature salute for veterans that bathes the monument in red, white and blue. Also check out the seven-block Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District that includes the Indiana War Memorial & Museum and Veterans Memorial Plaza, known for its 100-foot obelisk and fountain honoring all branches of military service. Chicago also has its share of military tourism sites. Among them are Soldier Field, the city's historic football stadium that's dedicated to fallen American service members; the National Veterans Art Museum, which exclusively displays art made by veterans; and the Chicago Remembers Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Chicago River, which features the names of nearly 3,000 Illinois service members killed in the Vietnam War. Other must-visit Midwest sites include the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri; the War Memorial Center and adjoining War Memorial Beer Garden in Milwaukee; and South Dakota's Mount Rushmore, which in the summer hosts a nightly lighting and flag ceremony honoring veterans. WEST The West has long been a symbol of American freedom, which makes it an ideal place to salute service members and veterans. Although Hawaii isn't exactly road trip-friendly, Pearl Harbor National Memorial on Oahu is an obvious destination. At the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, the USS Arizona Memorial and the moving Remembrance Circle exhibit, you'll learn about the famous Japanese attack on the United States and honor the more than 2,300 service members and civilians who died during on Dec. 7, 1941. Back in the lower 48, the San Diego Air & Space Museum is a bucket-list stop for aviation buffs, as is The Museum of Flight in Seattle. Other worthwhile stops are the National United States Armed Forces Museum in Houston; the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, which honors the military contributions of Black soldiers and also in Houston; the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, Wyoming, which is home to the world's largest private collection of U.S. military ground transportation vehicles on display to the public; and the Nevada State Veterans Memorial in Las Vegas, which features 18 larger-than-life statues depicting soldiers from different wars. For a taste of the unusual, check out the Burger King in Kayenta, Arizona, which is home to a mini museum honoring the Navajo Code Talkers, who helped transmit secret messages to Allied forces during World War II. Finally, stop by the newly opened National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, which features personal stories, rare artifacts and interactive exhibits honoring the 3,519 American heroes who have received the prestigious Medal of Honor.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
10 soldiers receive Purple Heart for 2024 drone attack at Tower 22
The Army has awarded 10 New York Army National Guard soldiers the Purple Heart for injuries they sustained in a January 2024 drone attack while they were assigned to a U.S. military base in Jordan. The soldiers were wounded during a Jan. 28, 2024 drone attack on Tower 22 that resulted in the deaths of three Army reservists, Army Times previously reported. At least 40 troops were injured in total. Desert Storm Apache crews awarded Distinguished Flying Cross The 10 soldiers, who are assigned to the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, received their medals on May 10 from unit commander Lt. Col. Darren Ketchum. 'This decoration is not sought, and it's not given lightly,' Ketchum said. 'It is earned through courage in the face of danger. Today, we recognize those who stood firm when faced with the harshest realities of combat.' The soldiers honored during the ceremony were: • Staff Sgt. David Barrientos, from Zebulon, North Carolina • Sgt. Anthony Gist, from Floral Park, New York • Sgt. Ryan Kissoon, from Richmond Hill, New York • Sgt. Guillermo Renderos, from Yonkers, New York • Sgt. Jarvis Ho So, from Brooklyn, New York • Spc. Christian Tiburcio, from Manhattan, New York • Spc. Matthew Crespo, from Brooklyn, New York • Spc. Domingo Perez, from Brooklyn, New York • Spc. Junior Clarke, from Brooklyn, New York • Spc. Michael Branch, from Brooklyn, New York 'I am honored to have received the medal, but it's never an award we wanted to get,' Sgt. Ryan Kissoon said. 'It's a sad relief we made it home that day, and others didn't.' Kissoon added that the chaplain assigned to Tower 22, Maj. Chase Wilhelm, told him something he would never forget about that day. ''We are all from different parts of the country, but we will forever be bonded by blood,'' he recalled Wilhelm saying. When the attack unfolded, 14 soldiers from the battalion's Charlie Company were at the outpost to help maintain communications, according to a release announcing the Purple Heart recipients. The drone struck a section of the base where soldiers lived. Soldiers suffered concussions and other injuries due to the blast. Platoon leader 1st Lt. Ian Gallagher said the containerized housing unit 'crinkled like a soda can' from the blast. Soldiers who were not severely injured worked to rapidly restore communications from the outpost while combat lifesaver-trained troops in the unit used aid kits to help treat other injured soldiers. Other uninjured soldiers donated blood. Charlie Company commander Capt. Paul Kramarz said the soldiers assigned to the Tower 22 base were chosen especially for the mission. 'These soldiers from Charlie Company, located at Tower 22, were a hand-selected team,' Kramarz said. 'We knew they would operate at the far reaches of our area of responsibility.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Niagara County Interfaith Police Memorial Service set for May 15
Law enforcement agencies from Western New York and Southern Ontario will honor the sacrifices made by officers killed in the line of duty on May 15 at the 25th annual Niagara County Interfaith Police Memorial Service to be held at 7 p.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 140 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls. The service gives special recognition to law enforcement officers who gave their lives for the safety and protection of others and will include the recitation of the Roll of Honor — the names of those fallen officers — followed by the rendering of full military-style honors by an interagency honor guard. The first Niagara County Interfaith Police Memorial Service was held in 1999. It has been held every year since with the exception of a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's host pastor will be the Rev. Canon Helen O. Harper. This year's speaker will be state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt. Senator Ortt, who represents the 62nd Senate District, which covers all of Niagara and Orleans counties, was sworn into office in January 2015 and was elected minority leader by Senate Republicans in 2020. The New York Army National Guard veteran was awarded the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal and Combat Infantryman's Badge in recognition of his service during Operation Enduring Freedom. A reception will be held following the service. For more information contact Rev. Patrick Bradley at 716-804-4181 (bradleypj@ or the Rev. Canon Helen Harper at 716-282-1717 (urbanpriest@
