Statues and Memorials

There are many statues and memorials that have become popular symbols of the United States. Many are in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. One of the most remote is Mount Rushmore, which is located in western South Dakota.

Independence Hall, the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial celebrate America’s birth and early years. The Liberty Bell could also be grouped with these, though it isn’t exactly a statue or memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial recalls the Civil War, which tore the nation apart. It was one of the most tragic and important events in U.S. history.

An enormous sculpture of the Sioux Warrior Crazy Horse is still being worked on in South Dakota. It represents the Native Americans who were nearly destroyed after the Civil War. Ironically, all the presidents depicted on nearby Mount Rushmore except one played an important role in their destruction. (Theodore Roosevelt became president after the “Indian wars” had ended.)

One of our grandest symbols is the Statue of Liberty. It commemorates the millions of people who have emigrated to the U.S. from around the world.

Many popular statues and monuments commemorate America’s many wars. They include monuments to veterans of the wars in Vietnam and Korea. A monument to the Marine Corps focuses on an inspirational event from World War II.

The bloody price of war is symbolized by Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Do you think the government will one day commission monuments to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? Will we ever build monuments honoring the millions of people who have been killed by the U.S. military?