The Virginia War Memorial marks its 75th anniversary in 2025 with the release of a new book celebrating and documenting the history of this revered place. For the first time, every name etched on the Shrine appears in print.
Through the stories of those who served, the nation’s leading state War Memorial honors Virginia’s fallen and preserves the past. In the process of helping veterans find their voice and collecting and telling their stories, the Memorial also educates and inspires for the future.
Take a moving, reflective walk through the heart of the Memorial: the Shrine of Memory.
Engage directly with history through veteran-led tours, educational programs for all ages, as well as artifacts, photographs, films, oral histories, and the arts.
Since 1956, the Virginia War Memorial has stood as a special place of remembrance and reflection.
Over the decades, the mission and vision of the Memorial have grown and expanded to include education and honoring all veterans. The buildings, grounds, and interior spaces have also grown and evolved with purpose. The Memorial continues to be a thriving center of patriotism and service in the Commonwealth and the nation.
We invite you to hear from friends, families, volunteers, and staff about why this important place only grows more relevant year after year.
The Virginia War Memorial’s new exhibit, D+80: Virginians in the Normandy Invasion, opened on Thursday, June 6, 2024 – marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II. The exhibit features never-before-seen interviews with Virginians who were in Normandy on D-Day.
No single action, or single day, remains more recognized or iconic in American Military History than the 6th of June 1944.
Virginians played a pivotal role in the invasion, with the 29th Infantry “Blue and Gray” Division leading the first wave assault on to Omaha Beach. Virginian units suffered some of the heaviest losses on D-Day, such as the historic 116th Infantry Regiment, which sustained 341 casualties.
Salute to Service is a multi-year program dedicated to providing a venue and program reuniting Virginia veterans with their units and the American conflicts in which they served. The inaugural program will be on March 21, 2026, to commemorate 35 years since Operation Desert Storm.
Salute to Service will provide veterans and their families with a day of celebration and remembrance of a major conflict, all while fostering an atmosphere of peer support, camaraderie, and historical reflection.
The program will consist of speakers, moderated discussions, musical performances, and documentaries, providing rich context and a broad perspective of what Virginia veterans experienced in their campaigns and the people with whom they served. A wreath-laying ceremony and free time on the Virginia War Memorial’s grounds will also allow veterans to remember and honor those who did not return. The shared history of veterans, and the public’s understanding of it, will be enhanced through individual oral histories, photographs, and artifacts.
The Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Virginia War Memorial invite Virginia veterans, their immediate family members, and those who directly supported the Operation Desert Storm conflict to submit a Request for Invitation. This will ensure that all Virginia veterans are included in this powerful program of remembrance, which will honor their service when invitations are extended in late 2025/early 2026.
The Virginia War Memorial is located on five rolling acres with a beautiful view of the James River and the skyline of downtown Richmond. It’s an ideal environment for groups to gather to commemorate and celebrate our State’s meaningful military service history. Also, and more often, the grounds provide a space for reflection.
The new Public Green Space Initiative will enhance the visitor experience. It will be environmentally sensitive and sustainable. Virginia’s veterans have served and sacrificed on behalf of people across the globe. This public green space will be a living testament to their valor.
We are recognized as the Nation’s leading state war memorial. We very much want to look the part. Our fallen veterans deserve no less.
A Humble Gift of Gratitude: From Tragedy to Triumph – The Artwork of Henry Kidd is now on display in the Veterans Art Gallery.
Perhaps the most compelling element of Henry Kidd’s one-man show in the Veterans Art Gallery at the Virginia War Memorial is his choice of canvas. Just as a litter represents the movement of the wounded under the most difficult of conditions, the scenes painted on these litters honor those who are wounded under the most tragic of circumstances. Born in 1950 in Petersburg, Virginia, Kidd is a lifelong resident of Colonial Heights, Virginia. He grew up playing on the battlefields surrounding Petersburg and has spent his life studying America’s military history in all conflicts. Kidd is a graduate of Virginia State University and served six years in the U.S. Army Reserves as a sergeant.
Kidd’s art has appeared in documentaries on the History Channel and on covers of many books and magazines. His artwork hangs in numerous prestigious institutions and museums. His accolades include an award from the American Red Cross and a personal thank you from General Schwarzkopf for a piece he created to honor Persian Gulf War fighting forces. Kidd donated all proceeds from the limited edition prints of that piece to the American Red Cross for the families of military personnel. A Joint House and Senate Resolution by the Virginia General Assembly recognized Kidd for his artwork and efforts aiding 9/11 victims.
Don’t miss the chance to experience this moving and deeply personal art in person. Visit the Henry Kidd exhibit in the Veterans Art Gallery and experience the stories of service and sacrifice captured through art.
Join the War Memorial’s supportive community of Americans, both civilian and military, who stand by those who served and help them find their voice. Your gift will grow the educational programming, patriotic events, award-winning documentaries, and state-of-the-art facilities for which the Virginia War Memorial is known.
Get involved in a wide variety of patriotic ceremonies, educational programs, arts events, and fundraisers. Check back for updates or CLICK HERE to receive regular emails about War Memorial happenings.
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