Indianapolis is a city that honors its veterans and pays tribute to those who have served in the military. From the Medal of Honor Memorial to the USS Indianapolis Memorial, there are a number of monuments and memorials that commemorate the brave men and women who have fought for their country. The Medal of Honor Memorial is located on the east side of the American Legion Mall. This series of 27 curved glass walls, created by RoamWorks artists Eric Fulford and Ann Reed, honors the 3,456 Medal of Honor winners who have served in 15 different conflicts.
Every nightfall, this monument plays recorded stories of medal winners or the conflicts in which they fought. It was designed to resemble Vietnam and Korean War memorials, and is only 20 feet wide. The Indiana World War Memorial and Museum is located at the north end of the Canal. This monument is much larger than the other two, reflecting the size and scale of World War II.
It displays messages on both its concave and convex sides, with the concave side showing letters from World War II veterans from Indiana and the operations carried out during the war. The convex side honors Hoosier Medal of Honor winners and the city's outstanding units. The USS Indianapolis Memorial is one of only 26 monuments designated as a National Monument by an act of Congress. After 50 years of dreaming and exchanging ideas, the survivors of the sunken ship finally raised enough funds to build this monument.
On its south side are inscribed the names of the cruise company and a passenger who was part of its final crew. A walking or biking tour of Indianapolis' war monuments covers approximately 3 miles and can last approximately 2 hours. The best place to start is at Military Park, where you can find the Congressional Medal of Honor Monument. This monument opened in 1999 and was attended by 96 living Medal of Honor winners.
At dusk, it lights up and plays audio recordings narrating stories about each recipient. From there, you can head to Cenotaph Square on the north end, which serves as a memorial to American victims of World War I. Corporal James B. Veterans Memorial Plaza is home to a 30-meter-high black granite obelisk, fountain and flags from all 50 states.
Finally, you can visit Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the center of Indianapolis. This imposing structure made of Indiana limestone serves as a reminder of all those who have served their country. If you're looking for a way to honor those who have served in our military, then exploring Indianapolis' war monuments is a great way to do so. From Medal of Honor Memorials to USS Indianapolis Memorials, these monuments are a reminder of all those who have sacrificed for their country.
