Support the Troops - Attractions in the US that Honor Our Armed Services

Not all of us in the United States today have a family member serving in the armed forces to keep our soldiers in the forefront of our thoughts and prayers. Although the war in Iraq dominates news programs to an extent, in our daily lives it can seem very far away. While writing about the attractions in some of the U.S. cities best suited for educational tours, I came across some military sites that fascinated me. I realized afresh that traveling to these sites could be one way for us to support our armed forces right here on our own soil.

1. Retired US Battleships

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, many United States battleships were retired. You can find several of them around the United States, sometimes in the state whose name they bear. For instance, the USS Alabama (which stands for United States Ship Alabama) returned to that state in 1964 after the people of Alabama, led by several school children, raised the funds to acquire it and establish its resting place. Did you know it is nicknamed Lucky A? This is because it never lost a sailor during enemy battle. There is so much history and rich detail surrounding each of these ships, which you can learn firsthand when you visit them. Others include the USS New Jersey, which rests in Camden, New Jersey, just across the river from Center City Philadelphia, and the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia. Exploring a retired battleship will give you a small taste of the life of our American heroes and will make their service to our country come alive for you.

2. Pear Harbor

While I’m on the subject of retired battleships, don’t forget the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor. This battleship was still in commission until March 1992. The USS Missouri rests in Pearl Harbor as it was the ship on which the Japanese surrender was signed to eventually end World War II. It is docked with its bow respectfully facing the USS Arizona Memorial. The Arizona itself is buried beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor along with many of its sailors who were on board that terrible day in 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked and the USS Arizona fatally struck. Tours on the USS Missouri are led by retired veterans and survivors of Pearl Harbor. This memorial is a beautiful way to recognize their service as well as the sailors whose lives were lost that day.

3. USS Constitution

It seems I can’t get away from ships, but this one is simply amazing. The USS Constitution, named after the United States Constitution document, was commissioned by George Washington himself. It is still considered in commission today and thereby the oldest ship to be so in the world and still afloat. The soldiers on board are on active duty special assignment. The USS Constitution earned the nickname Old Ironsides because of the way enemy fire seemed to literally bounce off of it during battle. With so much history surrounding it – imagine the life this ship has seen! – and the fact that the tours are guided by active duty servicemen, what better way to memorialize our heroes of the past as well as support our soldiers today.

4. United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team

Each branch of our armed forces has an honor guard which in turn usually has a performance drill team charged with the duty of raising awareness around the country for the men and women in military service. The USAF Honor Guard drill team is one of them. The team travels around the United States to special events, and the performance is simply amazing. The precision and concentration of the drills astounds the audiences. The performance also showcases the absolute trust the soldiers must place in one another. Such a display of this kind of excellence will certainly accomplish the goal of awareness and can establish in its witnesses a beautiful confidence in our military.

5. Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier