In honor of Veterans Day, celebrated annually on November 11, we’ve found some great destinations that are steeped in military history.
Veterans Day, first celebrated in 1919 under the proclamation of Woodrow Wilson, Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and was in honor of the end of hostilities at the end of World War I (which formally ended in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918). The holiday changed to its modern form in 1954.
Visit a Naval Museum, Especially an Aircraft Carrier
Some of the best places to get a sense of what a veteran has experienced is to visit a museum ship. Aircraft carriers are especially impressive and are dotted around the U.S. You can visit the Midway in San Diego, California, the Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas, the Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina, the Hornet in Alameda, California, and the Intrepid in New York, New York. With so many options, you’re never really that far away from visiting one of these impressive ships. All of the aircraft carriers are preserved relics from World War II, and each one has fantastic exhibits that outline the naval aspect of the war, life on an aircraft carrier, and the service history of that particular aircraft carrier.
Visit a Civil War Battlefield
Though all the survivors from the Civil War are now gone, it’s still a great way to honor veterans and learn some history at the same time. Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania, is perhaps the epitome of Civil War battlefields. It was the largest, bloodiest battle of the Civil War with 50,000 casualties. Though the conflict took place more than 150 years ago, it’s still a powerful reminder of the sacrifice and strife that took place and that almost tore apart the nation.
Washington D.C.
Our nation’s capital is teeming with monuments dedicated to the brave men and women who fought in wars both present and past. Some honor those who fell and some honor those who fought. Regardless, there are plenty of stunning monuments to see and places to visit. If you can, it’s a wonderful place to spend Veterans Day.
National Veterans Art Museum, Chicago, Illinois
A museum that showcases art produced by American service men and women, the museum is second to none in giving visitors a glimpse into the inner workings of a combat veteran. Originally set up to display art by Vietnam veterans, the museum has evolved over the years to include art from veterans of any war.
Visit Us at Lazydays in Tampa or Tucson
If your Veterans Day travels bring you through Tampa or Tucson, stop by and see us at Lazydays RV. View our huge inventory, stay a night or two at our RV resort, or schedule some service before you hit the road again.
