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Military Memorials and Honors

Commemoration of military service at memorials and cemeteries, highlighting poignant moments of remembrance and respect for veterans.

Visitors at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C, USA. (Editorial Use Only)
Visitors at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C, USA. (Editorial Use Only)
151 assets in this story
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Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles participates in a Public Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., May 19, 2022.
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North Carolina, Raleigh, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Raleigh, Johnpaul Harris, sculptor
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The Ontario Firefighters Memorial, Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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In honor of Memorial Day, Sailors from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) placed American flags on the 880 graves located on Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads-Portsmouth Annex Captain Ted Conaway Memorial Naval Cemetery, May 26. The grave site is laid out in four quadrants forming a Greek cross, and the earliest marked grave is that of George Butler, a Sailor who fell to his death in an accident aboard the USS Constitution on Aug. 1, 1838. The cemetery's burials represent not only American dead, but also individuals from Brazil, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Russia Spain, Sweden and Germany are buried here. As the U.S. Navys oldest, continuously-operating military hospital since 1830, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, part of the Tidewater Market, serves eligible beneficiaries at the nationally-acclaimed, state-of-the-art medical center, along with the areas 10 branch health and TRICARE Prime Clinics.
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American War Cemetary, Colleville sur Mer, Calvados, Normandy, France, Europe
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Fort Phoenix State Reservation, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, United States, North America
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A U.S. Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force New York renders honors as the USS Arlington (LPD 24) arrives at New York City, Nov. 9, 2022. Arlington Sailors and Marines participate in events in and around New York City during the week-long Veterans Day New York celebration to honor the service and sacrifice of the nations veterans.
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Iraq war inscription at Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne
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USA, Mississippi, Corinth, Corinth Interpretive Center National Park. Artistic Civil War battle memorial fountain, marble blocks with Civil War battles engraved on them.
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Pacific Islands Tour: Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and aides to Midway Atoll, U.S. Territory
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A US Naval officer visits a memorial to crew members of the American frigate USS ESSEX who were killed during a 19th century engagement between the ESSEX and the British frigates PHOEBE and CHERUB. Base: Valparaiso Country: Chile(CHL)
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The Universal Soldier, war memorial by artist Mac Adams, Korean War, Battery Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, monument of a soldier surrounded by autumnal trees in the city, North America
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The three soldiers memorial, Washington, District of Columbia, USA, North America
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U.S. military dog tags and a U.S. Marine cover hang in front of the U.S. Marine Corps Landing Memorial on the top of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, April 20, 2022. The tags serve as a reminder to the nearly 7,000 Marines killed during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The memorial commemorates the raising of Old Glory on Feb. 23, 1945, by Marines from the 28th Regiment, 5th Division.
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North America, USA, Hawaii, O'ahu. USS Arizona War Memorial.
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DD-ST-89-03746. Base: Washington State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Senior Airman Monica A. Figueroa Santos, 2022 Outstanding Airman of the Year representing Air Force Global Strike Command, looks at a memorial wall at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Sept. 18, 2022. Santos, along with the other 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year, attended a National Capital Region tour where they visited different historical and national landmarks across Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
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Members of the public stop and read some of the names of fallen Oregon service members from World War II following the Memorial Day ceremony held at the World War II Memorial in Salem, Ore., May 30, 2022. Oregon National Guard members participated in several Memorial Day community events around the state today, underscoring the significance of those members of the United States military that paid the ultimate sacrifice to this nation. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)
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USA, Washington DC, Arlington National Cemetery, Grave of President JF Kennedy.
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Portsmouth, Va. (Apr. 1, 2022) Commander, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, Rear Adm. Darin Via, and Commanding Officer, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Capt. Shelley Perkins, attended the raising of the national ensign during morning colors on April 1, 2022. Leadership joined 24 Navy chiefs to celebrate the 129th birthday of the Chiefs Mess. Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, provides well-trained medical experts, operating as high-performance teams, to project medical power in support of naval superiority.
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DA-ST-85-01139. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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U.S. Army V Corps senior staff leaders visit a monument dedicated to the 2nd Infantry Division, nicknamed Indian Head, during the units fight for freedom for local citizens, during the V Corps Staff Ride in Rocherath-Krinkelt, Belgium, August 6, 2022. This staff ride takes historical analysis of various battles and campaigns as part of the preliminary study, extensive-field-study and integration phases of an Army staff rideused to capture the lessons derived from each event and further the professional development of Army leaders. As America's forward-deployed corps in Europe, V Corps works alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat ready forces, executes joint and multinational training exercises, and retains command and control for all rotational and assigned units in the European theater while building local community relationships.
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USA, District of Columbia, Washington. Vietnam Veterans Memorial with reflection of the Washington Monument
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The United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team performs their routine during the Joint Services Drill Exhibition, Oct. 19, 2022, at the Lincoln Memorial Plaza, Washington, D.C. The Honor Guard Drill Teams mission is to promote the Air Force mission by showcasing drill performances at public and military venues to recruit, retain and inspire Airmen.
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UK, London, Green Park, Bomber Command Memorial
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Soldiers Marching during Army Day Parade, Washington DC, USA, Harris & Ewing, April 1939
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Italian Ambassador to the U.S. Mariangela Zappia (center) and Italian Air Force Maj. Gen. Maurizio Cantiello (right), defense attaché, Embassy of Italy, participate in a Public Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., March 28, 2023. The wreath-laying was in honor of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Air Force and included a flyover of four T6 aircrafts.
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NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana watches as a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknowns by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration.
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Annual Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally and related events on the National Mall, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne among officials on hand
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Portraits of US servicemen who died in Southeast Asia, placed at the base of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the day before its official dedication. Base: Washington State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Gravestone of John F. Kennedy, National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington, Virginia, USA, North America
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Marker at the temporary memorial, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, honoring the passengers and crew of Flight 93, hijacked on September 11, 2001. Secretary Gale Norton visited the site to swear in the members of the Flight 93 National Memorial Federal Advisory Commission
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U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams, the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient, lays in honor at the U.S. Capitol on July 14, 2022. Williams, known for his valiant service at the Battle of Iwo Jima, passed away on June 29, 2022. He served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and was awarded the militarys highest decoration for combat service, the Congressional Medal of Honor, by President Harry S. Truman in 1945. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Karis Mattingly)
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Vietnam Memorial, Washington D.C., United States of America, North America
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France, Ile de France, Paris, Arc de Triomphe, Eternal flame for the unknown soldier
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DA-SC-85-12815. State: New York (NY) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Three spires of Air Force Memorial reflected in marble engraved plaque in Arlington, Virginia, USA.
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YOKOHAMA, Japan (Feb. 14, 2023) Flowers on an urn at a war memorial ceremony for the Japanese/POW(s) Friendship Program, Feb. 14, at Yokohama Commonwealth War Cemetery. The cemetery includes a large urn containing the ashes of 335 Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen from the United States, the British Commonwealth, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands who died as POWs in Japan. The ceremony is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commander, Navy Region Japan, bringing families of U.S. prisoners of war to Japan for a week-long reconciliation tour.
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Staff Sergeant Reckless sculpture in the courtyard of the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.
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A view of the USS ARIZONA Memorial that spans the wreck of the sunken battleship USS ARIZONA (BB-39) alongside battleship row on the southeast side of Ford Island. The battleship ARIZONA was destroyed by a magazine explosion at 0805 on the morning of 7 December 1941 during the opening moments of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which brought Americas entry into the hostilities of World War II. Base: Pearl Harbor State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Service members from all service branches participate in an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Nov. 30, 2022. The wreath was laid by French President Emmanuel Macron.
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USA, Oklahoma, Black Kettle National Grasslands, Cheyenne, Washita Battlefield, site of battle during the US Indian wars between Chief Black Kettle and Lt. Col. George Custer, 1868
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A portrait of a US serviceman who died in Southeast Asia, placed at the base of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the day before its official dedication. Base: Washington State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Fort Drum community members and guests tour the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Museum after a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 21 celebrating its reopening. (Photo by Mike Strasser, Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs)
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State Funeral of President Kennedy: President Kennedys body returns to the White House. A hearse carrying the body of President John F. Kennedy arrives in a procession of cars at the North Portico of the White House. Washington, D.C.
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Korean War Memorial, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Employees and guests placed wreaths and flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew and was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who perished in 1967, and the shuttle Challenger, lost in 1986, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial.
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A military veteran from Minnesota visits a veterans memorial in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 10, 2022. The veteran was brought to the memorial and Washington through Freedom Honor Flight from La Crosse, Wis. (Photo by Command Sgt. Maj. Raquel DiDomenico, Fort McCoy, Wis.)
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The barracks that houses service members assigned to the Soldier Recovery Unit at Fort Drum was memorialized Aug. 31 in honor of the late Sen. Robert Dole - an original member of the 10th Mountain Division during World War II - at a ceremony outside the facility. (Photo by Mike Strasser, Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs)