Indiana Memorial Sites
Writer / Michael Durr
Photographer / Daniel Woody
November 11 is Veterans Day in America, and we want to take this opportunity to encourage you and your family to take a pause, not only on the holiday, but also at other points throughout the year, to remember the sacrifices that many service members have made for our country.
Indianapolis is truly a unique place of remembrance. According to indianawarmemorials.org, we have 25 acres filled with one museum, three parks, and various monuments and memorials. Indianapolis ranks first in the nation in the number of acres dedicated to honoring our veterans, and second only to Washington, D.C., in the number of monuments.
“When you are deployed, you miss out on a lot of the day-to-day life that many might take for granted,” says Blaine Zimmerman, president and CEO of INvets. “I like to think at least for a day that people pause and reflect back on the sacrifices that have been made.”
INvets is a nonprofit organization founded by veterans that helps former service members transition to civilian life, by connecting them with Indiana employers and providing career-building resources. Zimmerman is a veteran himself and works hard to cultivate talent throughout our state. He and his team attend seminars at 25 active-duty bases around the country, in all four branches of the military. Zimmerman’s team represents about 450 companies throughout Indiana, and informs transitioning service members why Indiana is a great place for veterans to start the next chapters of their careers.
We encourage all of you to pause this month and visit some of our city’s incredible memorial sites, educate yourself on the history and sacrifices that were made, and share your experiences with others in our community.
Here is some information on some of our most impressive sites.
The crown jewel of the War Memorial Plaza is the prominent Indiana War Memorial, which was built to honor Hoosier veterans of World War I. What many people might not realize is that the monument is also a museum that is free to the public from Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are unable to get to the museum in person, you can also take a virtual tour by scanning the QR code in this article.
Another impressive location is the Medal of Honor Memorial, located in White River State Park along the canal behind the Indiana State Museum. It is the nation’s only memorial honoring Medal of Honor recipients – the country’s highest award for military valor. This incredible memorial pays tribute to Medal of Honor recipients representing 15 different conflicts. It consists of a series of 27 curved glass walls that are etched with the names of all recipients, their branch of service and the locations of their heroic actions. Every day at dusk, the Medal of Honor Memorial plays recorded stories of medal recipients or of the conflicts in which they fought.
Of course, one of the most recognizable locations is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which stands as a prominent icon of our city. Recognized as one of the world’s outstanding monuments, the structure has come to symbolize both Indianapolis and Indiana. Located in the heart of downtown in Monument Circle, it was originally designed to honor Indiana’s Civil War veterans. It now commemorates the valor of Hoosier veterans who served in all wars prior to World War I, including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, the Frontier Wars, and the Spanish-American War. One of the most popular parts of the monument is the observation deck, with a 360-degree view of the city skyline from 275’ up.
For more information, you can visit indianawarmemorials.org, and be sure to learn more about the incredible work that INvets is doing for veterans throughout Indiana and beyond.
