Desmond Thomas Doss was born on February 7, 1919, in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was the second born of William and Bertha Doss. He was raised as a Seventh-day Adventist and attended Park Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church school. He remained in school until eighth grade when he found a job at …
Continue ReadingPurple Up with the Virginia War Memorial There are more than 1.6 million children of military service members in the United States. Overall, military kids lead a very different lifestyle from those born into civilian homes. Their world revolves around the culture of the military, the constant cycle of movement, …
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An English bulldog has represented the Marines since 1922. During World War I, German reports often called the attacking Marines “teufel hunden,” or devil dogs, a name that the Marines began to embrace. Following World War I, a Marine recruiting poster featured a bulldog in a U.S. Marine helmet chasing …
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We are happy to share a special blog post from Jennifer Allen, the founder of Wonder Within Reach. Jennifer is a family travel blogger and mother of three children, including one with Spina Bifida. She writes about her experiences and recommendations traveling with her family. On her recent visit to …
Continue ReadingFt. Lee is the only one of the nine installations mandated for a name change to honor two different service members. The changeover is not expected to happen until early 2024. The Virginia War Memorial Foundation is hosting an “Insider Bus Trip” to visit Ft. Lee, including the Army Women’s …
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Beyond the Call of Duty This gallery is the only place in the Commonwealth where you can learn the history of the brave Virginians who have been awarded the nation’s highest and most prestigious military honor for valor. Of the more than 25 million men and women who have served …
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This February, as we celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans, we would like to share one story of one Virginian whose name is carved on the walls of the Shrine of Memory, Clifton Henry Davis. Born in Danville on December 8, 1944, Clifton Henry Davis was a star …
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Through the night of February 2, 1943, the S.S. Dorchester was traveling from New York to Great Britain. Once a luxury coastal liner, the 5,649-ton vessel had been converted into an Army transport ship, and was crowded to capacity, carrying 902 servicemen, merchant seamen, and civilian workers. That evening, the …
Continue ReadingOn Wednesday, December 15th, the Virginia War Memorial hosted a Key Exchange Ceremony in the Brice Heilman Amphitheater. The ceremony recognized the truck drivers delivering wreaths to more than 2,500 veteran cemeteries across the country, most notably Arlington National Cemetery, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day, taking place …
Continue ReadingIn a project done in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University, students helped gather information about the 1,303 Virginians listed on our Shrine of Memory. By Brian McNeill Originally published on VCU news. Walter “Butch” Boyd, a 19-year-old private first class in the U.S. Marine Corps from Norfolk, Virginia, was one of 26 …
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