Pay your respects at veteran memorials, cemeteries and military museums in Arkansas
As a nation, we have long held ceremonies to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation as well as those who have or are currently serving in the military.
We have federal holidays, such as Veterans Day, which celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, and Memorial Day, which honors those who died while in military service. Another military holiday, Armed Forces Day, honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.
Arkansas has many memorials to honor veterans. Some represent all veterans while others are specific to certain conflicts. Additionally, some are large monuments while others are small markers set in remembrance.
If you’re looking for a place to pay your respects during the dedicated holidays or any time of year, the following is a list of some of the larger memorials, museums and cemeteries found throughout the state.
Memorials
Veterans Wall of Honor, Bella Vista
The Veterans Wall of Honor chronicles significant military events from the Revolutionary War to the war on terrorism, including battles and times of peace, through 63 bronze plaques on a circular monument. It also contains a massive arch entryway, historical flags, a fountain, the preamble to the Constitution and more than 4,500 granite honoree tablets that veterans and their families have purchased to make this project possible.
Veterans Memorial, Pea Ridge
This memorial is a tribute to all veterans, living and deceased, who have graciously sacrificed their time in service to our country, and to the lost submarines and sailors from WWII and post WWII. It includes a torpedo mounted on granite stanchions surrounded by a semi-circle of granite monuments inscribed with names and three large flags.
Ash Flat Veterans Memorial, Ash Flat
This memorial includes a fountain, two sets of wall monuments containing names of veterans, historical flags, a tank, a rocket, a cannon and other military memorabilia.
Veterans Memorial of Garland County, Hot Springs
This memorial is for all Garland County veterans and veterans with family ties to Garland County. Built in the beautiful Hot Springs Greenway, it makes an iconic centerpiece for the community. It contains large granite pavers and bricks inscribed with veterans’ names, a statue dedicated to “Fallen Heroes” and more.
Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial, Little Rock
At the Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial, the names of those killed in the war and six Arkansas Medal of Honor winners are listed on black granite panels, which surround life-size statues of soldiers and Korean children.
Arkansas Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, Little Rock
Located on the southeast corner of the grounds of the Arkansas Capitol, this memorial is dedicated to Arkansans who served in Vietnam and inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives. It consists of a wall with the names of 662 Arkansans killed in action and missing in action and a statue of an infantryman on a base inscribed with the names of each of the U.S. military branches. It is framed by the United States and Arkansas flags and is illuminated at night.
Veterans Memorial, Maumelle
This large and scenic memorial located on the banks of Lake Willastein is dedicated to all veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Grant County Veterans Memorial Park, Sheridan
The memorial site honors the nine airmen whose Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress crashed in Sheridan in 1943 and is located at the crash site of the World War II bomber. The airmen were en route from Kansas to Florida and on to Europe. There is also a Memorial Wall on site.
Walls of War Memorial Monument, Monticello
Dedicated to all who have served or will serve in the military, this monument consists of four large granite markers placed in a square, allowing space to walk between them. Each piece of granite displays the word “Sacrifice” and is inscribed with the names of men who served from Drew County in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. There is a flagpole in the center of the monument.
Veterans Memorial Park, Rector
Honoring Rector's past, present and future members of the armed services, the park’s centerpiece is a life-size American soldier cast in bronze and weighing approximately 600 pounds. Cast as a replica of a World War II soldier, the bronze represents the five uniformed services of the U.S. Armed Forces – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The park also features flags of each of the services, as well as state and city flags, a heritage walkway and a founders' wall.
Cemeteries
Fayetteville National Cemetery, Fayetteville
The U.S. Army established Fayetteville National Cemetery in 1867. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fort Smith National Cemetery, Fort Smith
The once-small cemetery at Fort Smith has been expanded several times over almost 200 years and today totals 32 acres. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Little Rock National Cemetery, Little Rock
Little Rock National Cemetery, encompassing more than 31 acres, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, North Little Rock
The cemetery, situated on an 82-acre site, commemorates the military service of deceased veterans and provides visiting family and friends an atmosphere of peacefulness and dignity.
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, Birdeye
The 100-acre cemetery, located in the community of Birdeye, east of Cherry Valley in Cross County, serves as the final resting place for veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents.
Military Museums
Arkansas Air and Military Museum, Fayetteville
This museum shows the history of Arkansas aviation through original artifacts and memorabilia along with displays ranging from the golden age of aviation to the jet age. It has numerous airplanes and helicopters, many of which still fly, and is housed in a vast, wood hangar that was former headquarters for one of the United States many aviator training posts during WWII.
Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, North Little Rock
Tour the longest-serving submarine in the world, the USS Razorback (SS-394) at this museum, located in North Shore Riverwalk Park along the shore of the Arkansas River. Plus, the USS Hoga tugboat, a National Historic Landmark, makes this the only place in the world to see two floating naval vessels that bookend World War II.
Jacksonville Museum of Military History, Jacksonville
The museum sits on the original grounds of the World War II era Arkansas Ordnance Plant that was located in town. The first defense plant for Arkansas and the first of its kind in the nation, it stands out in that it produced 80 percent of the detonators used in World War II. Around 75 percent of the workers were women.
Arkansas National Guard Museum, North Little Rock
The Arkansas National Guard Museum on Camp Robinson in North Little Rock tells the story of the state’s guard from its progress as a frontier militia to a modern military. Camp Robinson is a historic military camp that is home to the Arkansas National Guard and serves as a training area. It served as a training base for soldiers for World War I and World War II and also housed a large German prisoner-of-war facility.
MacArthur Park, Little Rock
The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History and the Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial can be found on this 36-acre historic park that is Little Rock’s oldest urban park. The museum, located in the historic tower building of the Little Rock Arsenal, is a National Historic Landmark and the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur. Exhibits vividly portray Arkansas’s military heritage from territorial days to present.
Chaffee Barbershop Museum, Fort Smith
This museum is restored WWII army barbershop where thousands of U.S. soldiers received their signature GI buzz cuts, including Elvis Presley, who reported for duty in 1958. It also contains period memorabilia and photographs documenting Presley’s cut.
Fort Chaffee Vietnam Veterans Museum, Fort Smith
The Vietnam Veterans Museum contains Vietnam War memorabilia such as helmets, uniforms, guns, documents, love letters and other Vietnam-related items. It is also home to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 467. Open by appointment only.
Aviation Cadet World, Eureka Springs
This attraction highlights cadet history from 1917 to 1968 with hands-on experiences, a gift shop and static displays such as the F-105F/G, F-100F, Marine Corps F-5, T-33 jet trainer and the only F-105G mobile display in the world. It has an Aeroball, a T-29 flying classroom, a T-34 primary trainer and an F-16 simulator.