As we move into summer, we thought it would be a good time to revisit this opinion piece, written by one of our Board of Directors. In his recollections Michael Santoro reminds us that at the Virginia War Memorial, every day is “Memorial Day.” The grounds of the Memorial and …
Continue ReadingIn these extraordinary times, people are looking for distractions, for a way to spend their time. For many, this includes a way to put the challenges of today into the proper perspective. Books are a tremendous resource for all these intentions. Books inform, they entertain, they provide an escape. A …
Continue ReadingThe Virginia War Memorial Foundation would like to thank all those who participated in and covered the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Annual Memorial Day Ceremony. More Memorial Day Coverage: CBS6 Livestream: Virginia War Memorial’s Memorial Day Ceremony Richmond Times Dispatch: Photos: Memorial Day at the Virginia War Memorial Style Weekly: The …
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A message was delivered to my barracks room in late February of 1993. It said simply “call home.” As I made my way down to the payphones in the concourse, where all VMI cadets had to go to make a call, I wondered what the news would be. Perhaps my …
Continue ReadingYes, adversity reveals character. Adversity also reveals ingenuity and talent. Consider the distillers and brewers across the country that quickly pivoted to using alcohol supplies to produce hand sanitizer in response to shortages caused by the corona virus pandemic. Here in Virginia the call for hand sanitizer was answered for …
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Several years ago, while assigned to the US Army’s Combat Studies Institute at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, I was charged with writing a chapter for a study on battles in Afghanistan. The subject of the chapter was an engagement that took place on 21 June 2006, high atop a ridgeline in …
Continue ReadingAs we approach the 75th Anniversary of “Victory in Europe” (V-E) Day, I thought that I would take a look at the material in the archives and spotlight a view that we may not normally look for: how V-E Day was received by our troops in the Pacific. This is …
Continue ReadingOver the last few weeks, we have received an overwhelming amount of support from all over the Commonwealth of Virginia. Many of you have asked about how to best support the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and our programs while our doors are closed. The simplest solution is to continuing doing …
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Each April, children of our servicemen and women are recognized during the Month of the Military Child. Established in 1986 by then Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, the initiative has been continued by the Department of Defense ever since. While this recognition has only been around for a little over 30 …
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1990-1991. My freshman year (or Rat Year) at the Virginia Military Institute coincided with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, commonly known as The Persian Gulf War. While my Brother Rats and I endured push-ups, buzz cuts, poor grades, and the never-ending need to shine shoes or clean our …
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