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Honoring Veterans at Missouri’s Memorials, Monuments and Museums

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Credit: Missouri Division of Tourism

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Missourians take pride in their dedication to supporting those who fight for our country and in remembering those who gave their lives in the protection of our freedoms. From veterans’ memorials and military history museums to memorial parks, local tributes and even a full-scale replica of the Vietnam Wall outside of Washington, D.C., there are many ways to pay your respects and participate in history in the Show-Me State.

Here are some spots to add to your itinerary for educational family trips and places across Missouri to honor servicemen and women at any time of year.    

Must-Visit Veterans Memorials, Monuments and Museums


National WWI Museum and Memorial

Designated by the U.S. Congress as the country’s official museum for what was initially known as the “Great War,” the National WWI Museum and Memorial in downtown Kansas City is must-see. It’s the second-oldest museum dedicated to the preservation of the war’s history and artifacts, and is considered the most comprehensive collection of its objects and documents. Exhibitions and hands-on history opportunities ensure the stories, and their impacts, remain relevant into the future.

Missouri Veterans Memorial

Located on the north side of the Missouri State Capitol grounds, the Missouri Veterans Memorial features a walk with eight columns honoring service members from World War I through modern conflicts. Visitors can walk the limestone promenade and view the terraced waterfall and reflecting pool. The site also includes many symbolic features representing the turmoil of war
and the quest for peace.

Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial

Millions of veterans and their families have made the trek to the nation’s capital to view the Vietnam Wall, but visitors can have a similar experience in Perryville. Vietnam veteran and farmer Jim Eddleman donated the 46 acres of land that would become Missouri’s National Veterans Museum and contributed toward the construction of the full-size sister wall honoring those who served, lost their lives and went missing in the conflict. In addition to the black granite replica, the site also features a military museum, Honor Flag Memorial and the Guardians of Freedom Monument.

Three men talk at Missouri's National Veterans Memorial in Perryville beside a full-sized replica of Washington, D.C.'s Vietnam Wall honoring those who served, lost their lives and went missing in the Vietnam War.
Missouri’s National Veterans Museum features a full-size replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C., honoring those who served and were lost in the conflict.

Tribute to Veterans Memorial

Set along the Purple Heart Trail in Warrenton, the Tribute to Veterans Memorial features numerous ways to honor those who served. A statue of a woman and child gazing at a Battlefield Cross recognizes fallen service members and Gold Star Families. A red granite wall commemorates 72 Warren County service members who died in service, and a Walk of Honor with pavers and benches encircles the site’s flags. The most recent addition is the Charters of Freedom with full-scale replicas of America’s founding documents, touted as the first of its kind in Missouri.

Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Higginsville

Set on 55 landscaped acres, the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Higginsville has capacity for approximately 24,000 gravesites for veterans and their spouses. The grounds also feature a wall for those who choose cremation, a small lake surrounded by a walking path and benches throughout the cemetery for moments of quiet reflection.

Veterans Memorial Park

Featuring an amphitheater, a memorial gazebo, a walking trail with monuments to major military engagements and more, Veterans Memorial Park in Rolla is a spot with numerous uses. In addition to hosting veteran funerals, the site also allows first-time enlistments, military and civic holiday activities, and even military and civilian weddings. 

Planning Your Perfect Veterans Road Trip

Additional stops to consider on your veterans’ memorial tour across the state:

Northeast Missouri

Central Missouri

Northwest Missouri

Southwest Missouri

Southeast Missouri

A green helicopter sits stationary outside of The Stars and Stripes Museum/Library in Bloomfield, Missouri.
The Stars and Stripes Museum/Library in Bloomfield offers a variety of exhibits and documents to immerse visitors in military history.

Locations are sure to be busier around holidays like Veterans Day, Memorial Day and National POW/
MIA Recognition Day, so be sure to plan ahead.