WASHINGTON, D.C. (Michigan News Source) — More than 41 million Americans have worn the uniform since the Revolutionary War. Now, a unique monument in the nation’s capital is giving families a chance to find the names of their loved ones.
The National Military Monument, presented by United Services Automobile Association (USAA) as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, stands on the Lincoln Memorial Plaza in Washington, D.C. The temporary installation honors generations of Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
More than a list of names.
MORE NEWS: Three Signatures Short: Citizenship Voting Proposal Blocked From Michigan Ballot
According to Newsmax, the monument features two double-sided digital American flags, each 75 times larger than a typical household flag. Veterans’ names scroll across the displays by era while the digital flags appear to wave in the wind. With so many names to honor, a full rotation takes several days.
The database was compiled from military records, public databases, veterans service organizations and voluntary submissions. Because no single government database includes every American who has served, some veterans may not yet be listed. Visitors can search for a loved one and, if the name is missing, submit it to be added and displayed on the monument.
You don’t have to go to Washington.
The physical monument is scheduled to remain at the Lincoln Memorial through Nov. 12. But the good news for families hundreds or thousands of miles away: you can search from home.
The monument’s website allows people to look for a veteran or active-duty service member and submit information for someone who isn’t yet included. The online experience is expected to remain available through Veterans Day as well.
WATCH: These towering 18-feet-tall, 108-feet-long twin digital displays of the National Military Monument will temporarily flank the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Plaza, where visitors can see the names of service members dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War.
Every… pic.twitter.com/bGf2GdirE8
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) July 30, 2026
Michigan veterans on the monument.
MORE NEWS: Michigan Students Are Heading Back to School With New Phone Restrictions
Michigan alone is home to roughly 461,000 living veterans, and countless more Michiganders have served and died over the nation’s 250-year history. The new National Military Monument gives families a chance to search for those names. You can search names here.
