Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial will host a dedication ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at its Honor Flag Memorial on the 1172 Veterans Memorial Parkway site in Perryville. The free event will unveil two new statues, one male and one female service member, standing side by side in tribute to “all who served.”
The memorial invites the public to the event but asks that attendees register in advance for planning purposes. Inside the adjacent military museum, visitors will also be able to view a special display of photographs of service members during deployment.
“Our dedication marks another step in honoring every veteran past, present and future,” said Rae Lynn Munoz, executive director of the memorial. “These statues are not only works of art but enduring symbols of gratitude for the sacrifices made by all who wear the uniform.”
HONOR FLAG MEMORIAL
The newly unveiled statues will become part of the Honor Flag Memorial, a 49-foot-long concave granite structure at the site’s welcome center. Each section of the memorial pays tribute to U.S. conflicts and military branches through laser-etched illustrations and typography.
A MIDWEST ALTERNATIVE TO D.C.
The memorial is home to the only full-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a black-granite wall listing more than 58,000 names of U.S. servicemen and women who died in the Vietnam War. The memorial’s mission is “to preserve military history, honor all who served, educate Americans about the cost of our freedom and provide a place for healing and reflection.”
According to the memorial, the campus “gives veterans, their families and supporters a peaceful area to reflect on the past and honor those who served.” With the wall replica and other monuments, the site draws visitors and veterans from across the country, offering an accessible place of remembrance for those unable to travel to Washington.
The dedication is free and open to the public; advance registration is requested at bit.ly/statueceremony. The memorial is open daily; the Vietnam Wall portion is accessible 24/7.
