Monument on National Mall Displays Names of 41 Million U.S. Veterans

A temporary installation called the National Military Monument began displaying the names of more than 41 million American service members, veterans and currently serving personnel on the National Mall. The exhibit is scheduled to remain through November 12, per the National Park Service’s support of the project.

The Hill

The monument features a scrolling digital display that cycles through every name, a process that can take several days to complete. The total count of names—over 41 million—covers all branches of the U.S. armed forces across multiple generations.

The Hill

United States Automobile Association (USAA), the sponsor of the monument, described the effort as its first large-scale public tribute. USAA’s communications director noted that visitor demand prompted an extension of the exhibit’s run. The National Park Service is credited with facilitating the placement of the installation on the Mall.

The Hill

Staff members assist guests in locating specific names, allowing visitors to view the screen and photograph the entry of a loved one or themselves. According to USAA, lines of visitors have stretched for hours as people wait to see the names of family members or acquaintances.

The Hill

• “This was the first time for USAA to do something like this. We wanted to do something big for America 250, and just the feedback has been tremendous and overwhelming. You know, the lines of people hours long just to come pull up a loved one’s name or their own name on the monument and people told us they wanted it here longer,” — Christian Bove, USAA communications director

The Hill