Welcome to Virginia Veterans Memorials Inc

Twenty-years ago our nation was attacked by terrorists who killed more Americans than were killed at Pearl Harbor. The wars that followed were unlike any others in our history. The Nation was not asked to step up, not asked to make any sacrifice. Our brave service men and women were asked to make exceptional sacrifices over and over again for the nation on a level never seen before. Every last one was a volunteer. Our best and our brightest.  There were no ticker-tape or welcome home parades, for them just a quiet thank you. 

In building Memorials to this conflict we are saying welcome home and making a profound public statement of our gratitude to the Veterans of one of the longest conflicts in American history and to stand as a permanent reminder of the bravery and devotion of our sons and daughters in service to the Republic. 

Comfortably nestled among a scenic colonnade of mature shade trees that line the original Warwick Boulevard entrance, the new Virginia Iraq Veterans Memorial will be situated adjacent to the circular plaza of the 1992 Virginia Vietnam War Monument that proudly stands in the center of Huntington Park. The 60-acre park, located in Newport News, Virginia, is run by the Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The site selection, about 100 yards from the Virginia War Museum, is ideal for creating a respectful memorial dedicated to sharing both personal and collective experiences of remembrance.  

Developed under the direction of the Virginia Veterans Memorials, Inc. committee, it is an honor for the design team of The 1717 Design Group, in collaboration with Stemann | Pease Architecture, to be entrusted with the responsibility of creating a place of meaning and value for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s veterans. It is our objective to orchestrate an emotionally powerful experience that reminds us of the complex issues surrounding the fight against terrorism without evoking an uncomfortable “crisis of conscience” narrative about the war. The design team envisions the memorial becoming a living landmark and a lasting tribute to both those that died and those that served for generations to come.