Stories

Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum Wins Hoosier Hospitality Award.

On November 29th, the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum 2122 O’Day Road Fort Wayne was selected as a 2022 Hoosier Hospitality Award Winner. This award is given to Hoosiers that have displayed a high level of service in tourism-related professions in Indiana.

According to an article at: https://www.army.mil of the 3,498 service members who have received the Medal of Honor throughout U.S. history, only 88 have been black. The first was Army Sgt. William H. Carney.

He earned the honor for protecting the United States' greatest symbol during the Civil War -- the American flag.

On Saturday September 24th the Veterans National Memorial Shrine & Museum located at 2122 O’Day Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46818 announced a new Gold Star Families memorial coming to the grounds.

In addition to the Woody Williams Foundation's support, Terry Hudson, former board member, and his family generously supported the installation with a $50,000 donation.

The Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum officially dedicated six new granite
benches that will be permanently displayed at the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

The benches were generously sponsored and engraved with the sponsor’s names on each of the benches.
The benches were produced by Ley Monument in Avilla, Indiana. These benches will be lasting
tributes honoring fallen heroes from the Vietnam War.

For those unfamiliar with  the Merci Train, here's additional information.

In 1949, Indiana was gifted one of 49 Merci Train railroad box cars. This gesture was in response to and with appreciation from French citizens after more than 700 American box cars of relief goods was sent to them, including from donations by many individual Americans.

Donations from the Merci Train came from over six million citizens of France and Italy in the form of dolls, statues, clothes, ornamental objects, art, and furniture.

Fort Wayne, In Jan. 25th The Veterans National Memorial Shrine & Museum
has recently been awarded the 2022 Concrete Achievement Award by the Indiana
Ready Mixed Concrete Association for the construction of the Vietnam Wall. The
Award was presented to Commander Greg Bedford, Chris Harmon Director of
Field Operations for Hagerman Construction, as well as Shawn Hacker, Forman
on the wall project from Hagerman, in Indianapolis on Monday January 17th.

Fort Wayne, IN: The McComb Family Foundation donated $25,000 for a
Granite Columbarium to be built at Veterans National Memorial Shrine and
Museum, 2122 O’Day Road.

On Saturday, November 27, 2021, a ceremony was held by the American Legion Auxiliary Post 47 to honor all military personnel. They presented a Red Poppy Wreath and a framed poem of "In Flanders Field" by John McCrea in 1915.

Plan a visit to the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum to see this special gift and the entire collection.

The Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum has been recognized for the board's commitment to ensure there will always be a place, "Where no veteran will ever be forgotten."