D.C. Tour Sites
Honor Flight sends our Veterans on a Mission of Honor to Washington D.C. While in our nation’s capital, our veterans will visit Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall where they can spend time at the memorials built in their honor. We also try to include several other stops during the tour. Additional stops depend on accessibility while in Washington D.C. Please enjoy details of the locations we can visit in person or through photos capturing their incredible workmanship and beauty.
Please click this PDF image below to download the information below that, to view on your phone.
National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
• Audio Tour (28:00) – 9/11 Pentagon Tour
• Opened on September 11, 2008.
• “We claim this ground in remembrance of the
events of September 11, 2001, to honor the 184
people whose lives were lost, their families, and
all who sacrifice that we may live in freedom. We
will never forget.”
• For each victim, there is a stainless steel inlaid
with granite cantilevered memorial bench with
the victim’s age and location at the time of the
attack inscribed on it. The benches are arranged
along stainless steel age lines, according to the
year each victim was born.
• The benches honoring victims on board Flight 77
face the direction of the plane’s approach to the
Pentagon, while those for the Pentagon victims
face the plane’s point of impact on the
Pentagon’s south facade.
• Age Wall, which runs along the west side of the
Memorial, “grows” in height by one inch relative
to the Age Lines. It begins at the 1998 Age Line
and is 3” above the bench for the youngest
victim that was three. It ends at the 1930 Age
Line, which is the birth year of the oldest victim,
and is 71” above the bench.
• Each day, the water beneath the Memorial Units
is turned off at 9:37AM in a moment of silence to
commemorate the exact time of the crash.
Arlington National Cemetery
•Established in 1864 as a military cemetery, 639 acres in Virginia on the Potomac River. More than 400,000 service members and their dependents are buried here. 28-30 are added each weekday and 6-8 on Saturday.
• In 1921, an Unknown American Soldier of World War I was buried in the cemetery. The monument at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was opened to the public in 1932.
• Two additional Unknowns, one from World War II and one from the Korean War, were buried there on May 30, 1958.
• The Unknown Serviceman of Vietnam was buried on May 28, 1984 but the remains were later identified, and the crypt remains empty.
• HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD.
• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24 hours a day by sentinels, the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).
• The Tomb Guard marches 21 steps, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps. After the turn, the sentinel executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. 21 symbolizes the 21-gun salute.
• While they can’t talk, the guards will often honor the veterans present by scuffing their heels.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
• Honors America’s 32nd and longest serving president.
• The four “rooms” which represent each of President Roosevelt’s four terms as commander in chief.
• Bronze sculptures of the President, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, his trusty canine and First Pet Fala, as well as scenes from the Great Depression of fireside chats and waiting in bread lines are surrounded by engravings of 21 famous quotes.
• There are four water features. One is comprised of one large fall, which depicts the crash of the economy that led to the Great Depression; multiple stair-like falls representing the Tennessee Valley Authority dam-building project; there are chaotic falls at varying angles signifying World War
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
• There are four water features. One is comprised of one large fall, which depicts the crash of the economy that led to the Great Depression; multiple stair-like falls representing the Tennessee Valley Authority dam-building project; there are chaotic falls at varying angles signifying World War
• Honors Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent leader of the civil rights movement from late 1955 to his death in April 1968, became an icon through his incredible speeches and his use of nonviolent resistance.
• He led the famous March on Washington in August 1963, where he gave his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
• 30-foot statue of Dr. King, featuring his likeness carved into the Stone of Hope and the Mountain of Despair – “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” from his “I Have a Dream” speech.
• Surrounding the statue of Dr. King is a 450-foot long Inscription Wall, which features 14 quotes from King’s speeches, sermons and writings.
US Navy Memorial Plaze
• Dedicated October 13,1987.
• Tribute to all the servicemen who have served and are serving in the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine.
• 100’ diameter granite map of the world encircled by relief sculpture depictions of historic events in US Naval history.
• Lone Sailor Statue is a living tribute to the men and women of the Sea Services – past, present, and future. It is made from bronze artifacts from 8 Navy ships (USS Constitution, Constellation, Maine, Biloxi, Hancock, Seawolf, Ranger, and the steamer Hartford. These ships span the Navy’s history.
• Every year around Mid-April the Navy brings water from all of the 7 seas, and the 5 Great Lakes, and they pour the water into the fountains at the Navy Memorial for the Blessing of the Fleet.
• Homecoming Statue depicts
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
• Introduction Audio Tour (6:15) – Dwight Eisenhower Memorial.
• 34th President, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during WWII, 5 Star General.
• 4 acre site surrounded by Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Aviation Administration, and National Air and Space Museum; all institutions that have their roots in Eisenhower’s presidency.
• Statues as a boy growing up in Kansas, addressing the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne prior to D-day invasion, and in the oval office surrounded by members of his administration.
• Metal tapestry depicting Cliffs of Normandy in peaceful times.
American Veterans Disable for Life Memorial
• Virtual Tour – American Disabled Veterans
• Honors all veterans of the armed services that were permanently disabled during the course of their service.
• Fountain with eternal flame.
• Reflecting pool reflecting the US Capitol building.
• “Wall of Gratitude” – quotations from General George Washington and General Dwight Eisenhower expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of disabled veterans.
• “Voices of Veterans” – 3 glass panels with quotes from veterans describing their devotion to duty and how they coped with their disability. Four bronze panels with silhouettes of soldiers behind.
• Grove of memorial trees.
World War II Memorial
• Honors the spirit and sacrifice of the 16 million men and women who served overseas and the more than 400,000 that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
• Opened to the public in April 2004.
• 56 granite columns symbolize unity among the 48 states, seven federal territories and the District of Columbia. The columns form a semi-circle around the memorial’s plaza. They are in chronological order with the odd numbers on one side and even numbers on the other. Michigan was the 26th State added to the Union.
• Two 43-foot tall arches on opposite sides. The northern arch represents victory in the Atlantic, while the southern arch symbolizes victory in the Pacific.
• Two bronze murals. Northern – scenes progress through the experience of war, from physical exams all the way to homecoming. Southern – pays tribute to the Atlantic, as the last scene depicts American and Russian armies shaking hands as the two sides met in Germany at the conclusion of the war.
• Freedom Wall – 4,048 gold stars pays tribute to American lives lost at war with each star representing 100 Americans.
• Two hard to find inscriptions – “Here we mark the price of freedom.” (below the stars) and “Kilroy was here.” (on the back side behind Delaware and Pennsylvania).
Capitol Building
• The cornerstone was laid by George Washington in September of 1793. Its design was modified several times until it was finished in 1865.
• Iconic 180-foot-high cast iron dome of the Great Rotunda.
• A monorail subway joins the House and Senate wings of the Capitol with the Congressional office buildings.
Washington Monument
• Honors America’s first President and Commander and Chief of the Continental Army.
• The world’s tallest freestanding stone structure at just over 555 feet.
• Construction began in 1848, but a lack of funds and political squabbling interrupted the work from 1854 to 1877.
• A clear change in the color of the stones can be seen about one-third of the way up the monument; the slightly darker stones at the bottom were placed before construction paused, while the lighter stones above it were brought in from a different quarry.
• 193 commemorative stones line the interior walls, which were presented by individuals, societies, States, cities and nations from around the world.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall – two identical walls that each stretch 246 feet and 9 inches, contain more than 58,000 names. The names are listed in chronological order based on the date of casualty, and within each day, names are shown in alphabetical order.
• You can look up names on the wall in the directory before the start of the wall, through one of the memorial volunteers, or online at Wall-of-Faces.
• The Vietnam Women’s Memorial –commemorates an estimated women that served in the Vietnam War, many of whom worked as nurses. The 2,000 pound bronze structure stands 15 feet tall and depicts three women attending to a wounded soldier.
• The Three Servicemen bronze statue – each of the three soldiers stands seven feet tall. One is European American, one is African American, and the other is Hispanic American, with the three servicemen gazing upon the names of lost comrades.
Lincoln Memorial
• Honors America’s 16th president.
• 36 columns, each one representing one state in the U.S. at the date of President Lincoln’s death.
• 190 feet long by 119 feet wide by almost 100 feet tall.
• A 19-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln sits overlooking the Reflecting Pool.
• Above the statue – “In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”
• To the left – the Gettysburg Address.
• To the right – his second inaugural address.
Jefferson Memorial
• Honors America’s third U.S. President and the writer of the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.
• He was a lawyer, politician, scientist, linguist, meteorologist, book collector, architect, farmer, and diplomat.
• Designed as a smaller version of the Roman Pantheon with marble steps and columns.
• 19’ bronze statue of Jefferson. The walls are inlaid with excerpts from his letters, speeches and the Declaration of Independence.
• Sits on the Tidal Basin bordered by DC’s famous cherry blossom trees.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
• Dedicated in 1995, on the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that technically paused the conflict.
• United Nations Wall, which lists all 22 members of the U.N. that contributed to the war efforts.
• The Mural Wall measures 164 feet long and eight inches thick, and from a bird’s eye view, the Wall appears as an isosceles triangle (two equal sides), with the tip intersecting a circle over the Pool of Remembrance.
• More than 2,400 images of troops moving by sea, land and air are sandblasted onto the surface of the wall.
• A squadron of 19 stainless steel figures each weighing 1,000 pounds, including members from each branch of the armed forces, are situated in the center of the memorial space.
• When the statues are reflected on the granite wall, there appears to be 38 soldiers, which represents the 38th parallel, the dividing line of North and South Korea during the conflict.
• Wall and Pool of Remembrance – includes the names of the 36,574 American and 7,174 Korean servicemen that gave their lives. Names are arranged alphabetically by rank by branch of service.
• Granite wall that states “Freedom Is Not Free.”
Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima)
• Video (7:20) The Story Behind the Statue – Marine Corps War Memorial
• The memorial is “In honor and in memory of the men of the United States Marine Corps who have given their lives to their country since November 10, 1775.” Today this is intended to include women as well.
• The Memorial is based on a Pulitzer Prize winning photo taken by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal. The image shows 6 Marines raising an American Flag on Mount Suribachi, during the battle of Iwo Jima, February 23, 1945.
• The base of the memorial is engraved with every major battle involving the U.S. Marine Corps since 1775.
Air Force Memorial
