If you’re looking for a place to pay your respects or learn more about local history this Veterans Day, then these Lynchburg-area monuments are a great place to visit.
- Monument Terrace
Located at 313 Ninth St., Monument Terrace offers a pedestrian staircase and a variety of monuments. Memorials honor veterans of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Spanish-American Warand the Vietnam War. There are also monuments honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action, as well as Purple Heart recipients.
- Old City Cemetery
The Old City Cemetery is located at 401 Taylor St. The cemetery houses the graves of more than 2,200 Confederate soldiers who died while Lynchburg operated as a military hospital hub during the Civil War. The cemetery also features several historical buildings, such as the Pest House Medical Museum, a preservation of Lynchburg’s first hospital. The grounds are open daily from dawn until dusk.
- National D-Day Memorial
Located in Bedford, the National D-Day Memorial honors those who lost their lives during World War II, specifically during the D-Day invasion. The memorial is in Bedford because the small town lost more lives per capita than any other town in the U.S. on the beaches of Normandy. The memorial offers a reflective pool, a grand arch and gardens. In addition to the outdoor memorial, visitors can explore a small indoor museum with artifacts and restored World War II military vehicles.
The memorial is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A $10 admission fee is required for student entry.
- Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
The Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is located at 111 National Park Drive in Appomattox. The park marks the site of Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant, which led to the end of the Civil War. The park features the McLean House, where the surrender was agreed upon, and other historic buildings associated with the Civil War.
Inside the McLean House, visitors can see the room arranged to reflect its appearance during the surrender, including artifacts from that time period. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free entry.
Combs is a feature editor for The Liberty Champion.