Unveiled on Veterans Day 1959, the 1,440,000-piece mosaic features Roman numerals representing the commencement and end dates for World War II and the Korean Conflict.
An eternal flame illuminates a black-granite Honor Roll listing Milwaukee County’s 3,481 war dead since World War II, the wars in Korean and Vietnam and those related to the Global War on Terrorism.
The black-granite ring in the center of Veterans Courtyard represents the never-ending commitment of our men and women in the military. The Ring of Honor lists all the Department of Defense-recognized conflicts American troops have fought in since World War I, including the so-called low-intensity conflicts that have called on the service and sacrifice of our veterans through the years.
As a tribute to the servicemen and women who have been awarded this honor, a committee was formed in 2007 with the goal of erecting a Purple Heart Memorial on the grounds of the War Memorial Center.
Privately funded by the Runzheimer Foundation, the Operation Iraqi Freedom Monument is dedicated to the Marines of Fox Company, who were killed in action during the Iraq War.
The 9/11 Memorial features a World Trade Center I-beam recovered from Ground Zero. The 1,566 pound artifact is a reminder of that tragic day in American history— the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed 2,996 people.
This statue is a replica of the 10-foot bronze monument of the same name created by sculptor Renee Headings and located at the Veterans Administration Building in Riviera Beach, Florida. The statue features an anonymous soldier who has returned from combat, carrying his son on his shoulders.
Numerous commemorative plaques in the gallery recognize the contributions of many, in service to all. Plaques and displays are exhibited or added as deemed appropriate by the Veterans Board of Directors selection committee.
The statue of Abraham Lincoln on the West side of the War Memorial Center is a true work of art. Dedicated in 1934 and re-dedicated on Labor Day 1986, the 10’6″ bronze statue was sculpted by American artist Gaetano Cecere (1894-1985), He was commissioned to do the work with pennies collected by area school children.
Dedicated on October 20, 1991, this moving memorial has become the focal point of Veterans Park at Milwaukee’s Lakefront. Three Wausau Red Granite represent those killed in action, prisoners of war/missing in action, and those who returned home.
The General MacArthur statue was relocated from its lonely home in MacArthur Square just east of the Milwaukee County Courthouse to its current location in Veterans Park in 2014.
