National Veterans Memorial and Museum

10/16/2026

This WWII photo was taken by Edward Steichen, one of the most celebrated photographers of the 20th century. When the U.S. entered the war, Steichen was already in his 60s and could have sat it out. He joined the Navy instead and led a unit of photographers who documented sailors' lives at sea.

In this frame, a submarine commander walks the deck and inspects his crew one last time before they head out on patrol. The men in white stand shoulder to shoulder along a narrow deck, with open water on one side and the pier on the other. Once the hatches closed, they would live for weeks in tight quarters under the surface, far from home and deep in enemy waters.

Submariners made up less than 2% of the Navy during World War II, yet they sank more than half of Japan's merchant shipping. That success came at a heavy cost: 52 U.S. submarines and more than 3,500 submariners never came home. The Navy still says they are "on eternal patrol."

This Navy-birthday week, we honor the crews who went beneath the waves and every sailor who has stood in ranks, answered the call, and shipped out.



📷 Edward Steichen / National Archives

10/15/2026

We're very excited to share that NVMM ECHO has been named a finalist for the 2026 The Anthem Awards, recognizing programs making a meaningful impact in their communities!

This national recognition celebrates programs making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, and it's exciting to see our work recognized alongside other impactful initiatives.

NVMM ECHO is about more than programming. It's about creating opportunities for Veterans to connect, build community, develop meaningful relationships, and continue growing beyond their military service.

This recognition is a reflection of the incredible work happening across our organization and the amazing partners who help bring ECHO to life.

Now we need your help!

NVMM ECHO is also in the running for the Anthem "Community Voice Award," which is determined by public voting. We encourage everyone to take a moment to cast your vote and share this opportunity with your friends, family, and networks.

To vote, find the entry labeled “National Veterans Memorial and Museum” and click the “Celebrate” button. Voting is open through October 29.

Vote for NVMM ECHO here: https://loom.ly/AhDHZkc

Thanks for helping us spread the word!

Join me in celebrating the impact of this Anthem Awards finalist.

10/15/2026

During Navy-birthday week, we're telling one of the greatest stories in naval aviation.

On November 18, 1952, Lt. Royce Williams launched from the USS Oriskany off the coast of Korea. Soon, he was alone in his F9F Panther against seven Soviet MiG-15s. What followed was a 35-minute dogfight that, for decades, most people never heard of because it was kept classified.

Earlier this year, at 100 years old, Royce Williams finally received the Medal of Honor.

His story shows what the Navy has stood for across 251 years: courage under fire, skill against the odds, and service that doesn't ask for recognition.

Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class James Finney

10/14/2026

Behind every flag is a story. Honor a Veterans' story at the NVMM.

When you donate $25 or more, you can dedicate one of the flags displayed on the lawn of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum during our Veterans Day events to celebrate the service of a Veteran.

When you reply, let us know whether you're giving in honor of a Veteran special to you or are giving to thank all who've answered the call to serve our country.

See all of the names of those being honored on our kiosk inside the museum or on our website until December 31, 2026.

We're proud that many of the American flags are provided to the NVMM by the generosity of The Flag Lady USA, a family-owned business and one of the largest and most recognized independent flag dealers in the United States, located in Columbus, Ohio.

https://give.nationalvmm.org/vetday2026
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Want to record the story of your service or the service of a loved on? Visit our NVMM Story Collection page and keep your story with us and in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

https://forms.monday.com/forms/5697508365ca744d83d8a85d68076ec5?r=use1

10/13/2026

NVMM is grateful for the generous support it receives from Rockport Wealth Advisors. Since 2020, Rockport has hosted the Salute to Service Golf Outing to honor those who have served our country. Through this annual event, more than $80,000 has been raised to support the NVMM and The Gallant Few, which supports service members and Veterans seeking guidance in their transition from military to civilian life.

Rockport CEO Adam Stalnaker is joined by NVMM Communications Director Mark Cooper and NVMM volunteer Gregory Edmonds at Monday’s outing at Red Tail Golf Club in Avon, Ohio.

GallantFew

10/13/2026

, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized two armed vessels to intercept British supply ships. It was a bold move for a nation that didn't formally exist yet. Those first ships and sailors took on the most powerful navy in the world. After independence, the Continental Navy was disbanded, but not for long. The Naval Act of 1794 commissioned six frigates, including the USS Constitution. "Old Ironsides" earned her nickname in the War of 1812 when British cannonballs bounced off her oak hull, and she's still in commission today as the oldest commissioned warship afloat.

In the centuries since, the Navy has kept reinventing what's possible at sea. In 1862, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia fought the first battle between armored warships and changed naval warfare overnight. In 1907, the Great White Fleet sailed around the world and announced America as a global power. In June 1942, sailors and aviators at Midway turned the tide of the Pacific War in a matter of days. In 1955, the USS Nautilus got underway on nuclear power, and three years later, she became the first vessel to reach the North Pole. From wooden hulls to nuclear carriers, one thing has stayed the same: the sailors who make it all work.

Today, we honor every one of them. We honor the ones on watch right now, the veterans who came before them, and the families who wait on shore. Your courage keeps the sea lanes open. Your commitment keeps the rest of us free.

Happy 251st birthday, U.S. Navy. Fair winds and following seas.

10/12/2026

"Corpsman!"

What better way to kick off Navy-birthday week then an focusing on one of their own.

On March 28, 1966, Navy Corpsman Robert Ingram was moving with the point platoon of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, in Quang Ngai province when about 100 North Vietnamese regulars opened fire from a village tree line. Within moments, the platoon was cut to pieces. Ingram crawled through the gunfire to reach the wounded. He was shot through the hand, then shot twice more, and then a fourth time while dressing another corpsman's head wound. Every time someone called, "Corpsman!" he went, gathering am******on from the fallen and treating his Marines from 4 p.m. until sunset.

His actions saved many lives that day, and more than 30 years later, he received the Medal of Honor. This Navy-birthday week, we honor Robert Ingram and every corpsman who has run toward the call when everyone else had a reason to take cover. The Marines have a name for them: Doc.

10/08/2026

On October 8, 1918, in the Argonne Forest, Corporal Alvin York and a small patrol slipped behind German lines to silence a nest of machine guns tearing his battalion apart. What started as a stealth mission turned into chaos. German fire cut down half the patrol in seconds, and suddenly, York found himself the senior man standing, with more than 30 enemy machine guns bearing down on what was left of his squad.

Armed with only a r***e and a pistol, York held his ground alone against wave after wave of German soldiers charging him with fixed bayonets, picking off man after man with a marksman's precision he'd honed hunting turkey back home in the Tennessee hills. By the time the smoke cleared, he'd killed roughly 25 enemy soldiers and silenced the guns that had his unit pinned down.

Then came the part almost nobody believes: York and his seven remaining men marched 132 German prisoners back to American lines — one former conscientious objector, turned into one of the most decorated soldiers of World War I, awarded the Medal of Honor for a single afternoon that changed the course of the battle.

10/07/2026

Want to honor the Veteran in your life this Veterans Day?

When you donate $25 or more, you can dedicate one of the flags displayed on the lawn of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum during our Veterans Day events to celebrate the service of a Veteran.

When you reply, let us know whether you're giving in honor of a Veteran special to you or are giving to thank all who've answered the call to serve our country.

See all of the names of those being honored here on our website until December 31, 2026.

We're proud that many of the American flags are provided to the NVMM by the generosity of The Flag Lady USA, a family-owned business and one of the largest and most recognized independent flag dealers in the United States, located in Columbus, Ohio.

https://give.nationalvmm.org/vetday2026
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Want to record the story of your service or the service of a loved on? Visit our NVMM Story Collection page and keep your story with us and in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress!

https://forms.monday.com/forms/5697508365ca744d83d8a85d68076ec5?r=use1

10/06/2026

Now on display at the NVMM: "Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors"

Adam McCann served in the infantry of the United States Marine Corps as a machine-gunner. On April 24, 2005, during combat operations in Hit, Iraq, Adam was wounded by shrapnel from enemy mortar explosions, sustaining injuries to his neck and both legs. His left Achilles tendon was cut in two places, and his right tibialis anterior was completely severed.

On August 31, 2006, Adam was medically discharged from the Marine Corps as a result of his combat wounds. Following his discharge, he began cycling as part of his rehabilitation. Through mountain biking, Adam was introduced to President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, an experience that ultimately led to his inclusion in President Bush’s Portraits of Courage.

To see Adam's portrait, along with all of the other portraits of Veterans from President Bush, plan your trip to the museum today!

https://nationalvmm.org/events-programs/exhibitions/portraits-of-courage/