Your Essential Visitor’s Guide to the National Military Monument

The National Military Monument: Complete Visitor’s Guide

The National Military Monument is a temporary tribute on the National Mall in Washington D.C., open from July 28 through August 23, 2026, that honors all 41 million Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces <span class=””>. Located at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, the monument uses large digital displays to recognize service members from every generation and allows visitors to summon individual names during their visit .

Quick Facts

What Is the National Military Monument?

The National Military Monument is a temporary memorial on the National Mall, established to commemorate all living and deceased U.S. military veterans. Unlike permanent war memorials that honor specific conflicts, this monument aims to recognize every American who has served, regardless of era or theater of operation.

The Concept Behind the Monument

The monument was created to honor the “commitment of those who served and stand as a meaningful reminder of their service” . It complements existing memorials on the National Mall—including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Korean War Veterans Memorial—by acknowledging service members across all generations, including those who served in peacetime and in conflicts without dedicated memorials.

Why It Matters for Veterans and Families

For the families of veterans, this monument offers a unique opportunity to see a loved one’s service recognized at the nation’s most hallowed memorial ground. For living veterans, it represents a national thank-you that has been a long time coming. The National Mall is already home to more than a dozen military memorials recognizing veterans who lost their lives in service, with two more under construction for Gulf War and War on Terror veterans. The National Military Monument aims to complement all of these by honoring those who served .

What veterans should do next:

• Plan a visit to the National Mall between July 28–August 23, 2026

• Request to have your name (or a family member’s) displayed during your visit using a customized code at on-site summon stations 

• If public records do not show a veteran’s service, request a name addition on the USAA website 

Where Is the National Military Monument Located?

The monument is situated at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington D.C. . This location provides a symbolic backdrop—the Lincoln Memorial has long been a site of national reflection and is one of the most visited monuments in the United States.

The National Mall is already home to more than a dozen military memorials recognizing veterans who have lost their lives in service . The National Military Monument sits alongside these permanent tributes.

How to Access the Monument

The monument is open to the public at no cost during its operating period. Visitors can walk from the Lincoln Memorial to view the digital displays and request name displays at summon stations on-site. For those who cannot attend in person, the National Military Monument website provides additional information .

How the Name Display Works

Digital Display Technology

The monument uses large digital displays to recognize service members from every generation . This is a departure from traditional stone monuments that list names in fixed format, allowing for a dynamic and interactive experience.

Requesting a Name Display

Visitors can request that their name or a loved one’s name be shown during their visit. This is done using a customized code at “summon stations” available on-site .

Name Coverage: What’s Included

Because there is no single database containing the names of every American who has served in the military, USAA compiled the list by searching numerous historical records and other available sources to create the most thorough list possible .

However:

• Active service members<span class=””> will most likely NOT be shown due to the availability of public records 

• Public information may not have records of some veterans—you can request a name be added on the USAA website 

• Historical records were sourced from multiple databases to create the most comprehensive list possible

What to Do If Your Name Is Missing

If you or a family member served but are not represented in the monument’s database:

1. Visit the National Military Monument website

2. Request that a name be added

3. Provide supporting documentation if available (DD-214, service records, etc.)

Who Built the Monument?

The monument is being built by Atomics Design, based in Lititz, Pennsylvania . Residents of the small town gathered to send off the American flag-designed structures to Washington D.C. ahead of the opening .

The monument is sponsored by USAA, a long-time supporter of the military community <span class=””>.

Comparison: National Military Monument vs. Other D.C. Memorials

What Veterans and Families Should Know

For Living Veterans

The National Military Monument is a rare opportunity to see your service recognized at the National Mall. Unlike permanent memorials that generally focus on the fallen, this monument recognizes all who served.

Plan your visit:

• Dates: July 28 – August 23, 2026 

• Location: Lincoln Memorial steps, National Mall, Washington D.C.

• Cost: Free

What to bring:

• A code for name summoning (obtainable on-site or in advance)

• Documentation of service if you need to request name addition

For Military Families and Surviving Spouses

If you have a loved one who served, you can request to see their name displayed during your visit . For surviving spouses, this is a powerful way to honor a service member’s legacy.

For caregivers and family members:

• Request name display for your veteran at summon stations 

• If the veteran’s name is not in the database, request addition through the USAA website 

For Active Duty and Guard/Reserve

Active service members will most likely not be shown due to public records limitations . Guard and Reserve members may or may not be included depending on the availability of public records .

What active duty and reserve members should do:

• Check to see if your name is included

• If not, you can still visit to honor those who served before you

• Consider it a preview of the recognition awaiting you after service

How the National Military Monument Compares to Other Veterans Memorials

National Military Parks

The United States has a long history of battlefield commemoration. The first official battlefield monument was authorized by the Continental Congress on October 29, 1781, to commemorate the victory at Yorktown .

The National Military Park concept began with the authorization of Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park in 1890, Shiloh in 1894, Gettysburg in 1895, and Vicksburg in 1899 . These parks were designed to preserve major battlefields for historical and professional study and as lasting memorials to the great armies .

Today, the National Park Service manages numerous National Military Parks and National Battlefield Sites, including:

• Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania

• Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, Georgia/Tennessee

• Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi

• Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee

• Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland

• Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia

Soldiers’ National Monument at Gettysburg

The Soldiers’ National Monument at Gettysburg National Military Park, dedicated July 1, 1869, honors the Federal dead who fell at Gettysburg . It stands where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. The monument features a gray granite shaft with allegorical statues representing War, History, Peace, and Plenty, surmounted by a statue representing the Genius of Liberty .

National War Memorial (India)

For international comparison, India’s National War Memorial is dedicated to soldiers who have died since Independence. Inaugurated on February 25, 2019, it is located east of India Gate in New Delhi and features four concentric circles: Rakshak Chakra (Circle of Protection), Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice), Veerta Chakra (Circle of Bravery), and Amar Chakra (Circle of Immortality) . More than 26,000 names are etched on granite tablets .

Common Questions

What is the National Military Monument?

The National Military Monument is a temporary tribute on the National Mall in Washington D.C., honoring all 41 million Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It will be open from July 28 through August 23, 2026, at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial .

Where is the National Military Monument located?

The monument is located at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington D.C. .

When is the National Military Monument open?

It will be open to the public from July 28 through August 23, 2026 .

Who built the National Military Monument?

The monument is being built by Atomics Design, based in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and is sponsored by USAA .

Can I see my name at the National Military Monument?

Yes, visitors can request that their name or a loved one’s name be shown during their visit using a customized code at on-site summon stations. Note that active service members will most likely not be shown due to the availability of public records .

Does the monument include all veterans?

The monument aims to honor all 41 million Americans who have served. However, because there is no single database containing every veteran’s name, USAA compiled the list from numerous historical records and other sources to create the most thorough possible list. Active service members are generally not included due to public records limitations .

What if my name or my loved one’s name is missing?

If public records do not have records of some veterans, you can request a name be added on USAA’s website .

Is the National Military Monument permanent?

No, it is a temporary monument, open only from July 28 through August 23, 2026 .

How does this monument differ from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial?

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a permanent monument honoring those who died in Vietnam, with names engraved in stone. The National Military Monument is a temporary digital display honoring all living and deceased veterans across all eras .

Are there other military memorials on the National Mall?

Yes, the National Mall is home to more than a dozen military memorials, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Korean War Memorial. Two more are under construction for Gulf War and War on Terror veterans .

Key Takeaways

• The National Military Monument is a temporary tribute on the National Mall honoring all 41 million U.S. veterans 

• It will be open from July 28 through August 23, 2026, at the Lincoln Memorial steps 

• Visitors can summon names to be displayed using on-site stations 

• Active duty service members are generally not included in the database due to public records limitations 

• If records do not show a veteran’s service, name additions can be requested on the USAA website 

• The monument is sponsored by USAA and built by Atomics Design of Pennsylvania 

• The monument complements existing military memorials on the National Mall 

• Two new permanent memorials for Gulf War and War on Terror veterans are currently under construction 

• The National Military Park system, created in 1890, preserves major battlefields as permanent memorials 

• The Soldiers’ National Monument at Gettysburg was dedicated in 1869 and stands where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address 

Official Resources