Jeanine McKelvyThe heart of the District of Columbia’s National Mall may be holding a temporary piece of your heart! In the Lincoln Memorial Plaza sits the chance for you to see the names of your loved service members displayed upon a memorial wall featuring over 41 million veterans. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is available to experience firsthand through August 23rd, 2026. The USAA Ambassadors are there from 10AM to 10PM to add up to three service member’s names to the screen at one time for photos to be taken. There is no entry fee but I can guarantee that your heart will leave abundantly full.
Walking up to the monument with your family in tow is worth every ounce of sweat. Yes, D.C.’s late summers can be hot with humidity that leaves you feeling like you’re closed in a greenhouse. However, a visit before midday or late afternoon keeps the temperature manageable and the crowds light. Restrooms are nearby with easy access for families with small children, and other iconic memorials are close enough to walk to make the trip well worth your time! Packing water bottles to use the refill stations ensure hydration, and packing small battery-operated fans can keep you cool while strolling down the semi-shaded pathways if you opt to go mid-day.
Take a moment to honor the heroes within your family creating a grounding, core-memory-making experience. This breathtaking structure appears as a stone flag rippling across the plaza leaving a bold statement of pride near the well known reflecting pool. Nearby kind-hearted USAA employees are willing to help you find who you’re seeking with ease, allowing this massive tribute to transform into a deeply personal journey. Your kids will point as they spot the recognizable names lit up on a screen in the heart of our Nation’s Capital, placing a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.
Personally speaking, seeing all of the names of the brave men in my family written upon the monument wall was chilling. Being able to stand there with my children felt like it bridged the distant gap in history to our everyday lives. It gave us a quiet, brief moment of honor for their sacrifices made, to share their stories, and allowing their memories to shed light into the hearts of our family’s youngest generations. The crowd and all the noise instantly disappeared as we walked hand and hand to have a photograph captured to freeze time in that very moment.
Though temporary, a display like this offers a vivid reminder to catch these fleeting moments before they pass us by. Step away from your daily routine, take a trip to the National Mall in the heart of the District of Columbia, and give your family the chance to see their roots honored in lights of The National Military Monument!
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