Arlington Memorial Bridge & Avenue

"Before us is the broad and beautiful river, separating two of the original thirteen States, which a late President [Andrew Jackson], a man of determined purpose and inflexible will, but patriotic heart, desired to span with arches of ever-enduring granite, symbolical of the firmly established union of the North and the South." (Secretary of State Daniel Webster)

More than 80 years after these words were spoken and 65 years after the end of Civil War, which threatened the "firmly established union," Arlington Memorial Bridge opened to traffic on May 6, 1932, after 5 years of construction and 46 years of serious proposals.

Symbolically, the bridge was designed to show the strength of a united nation by joining memorials representing the Union (the Lincoln Memorial) and the Confederacy (the Robert E. Lee Memorial). The bridge spans the Potomac River, a physical and symbolic divider of the "North" and the "South" during the Civil War. The bridge connects the Nation's Capital, where the country's democratic processes takes place, to Arlington National Cemetery, where thousands who died fighting to preserve democratic processes lay in eternal rest.

With its strong granite construction, formal neoclassical design, and various architectural details and symbols, Arlington Memorial Bridge emphasizes national strength and unity. The bridge also creates a somber setting appropriate for the statuary and memorials that line Memorial Avenue and the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

Construction of the bridge began in 1926, and completed in 1931. Arlington Memorial Bridge, Memorial Avenue, and the grand entrance to Arlington National Cemetery were dedicated on January 16, 1932. However, the bridge was not fully opened to traffic until May 6, 1932. The prestigious firm of McKim, Mead, and White served as the bridge's architects. The seven memorials along Memorial Avenue were installed later, the first in 1961, the last in 2001.

The Hiker

The Hiker stands in memory of veterans of the Spanish American War (1898) and two related actions: the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) and the China Relief Expedition ("Boxer" Rebellion, 1900). The Hiker also illustrates the fading illusion of the glory and romance of war. Soldiers headed off to these wars as if they were outdoor adventures, and referred to themselves as "hikers." The unparalleled bloodshed of World War I marked the end of a popular romantic vision of war.

Theodore Kitson originally created The Hiker sculpture in 1921, and copies of the bronze sculpture are found in every state. The statue on Memorial Avenue, dedicated July 24, 1965, is the final of 52 editions to be dedicated. It is also the original artists' proof casting used to create the subsequent editions.

Seabees

"With compassion for others, we build ~ we fight, for peace with freedom."

The Seabees Memorial was commissioned by the Seabees Memorial Association to commemorate those that served in the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions ("CBs") during both times of war and times of peace, and their "Can Do" attitude

Members of these Naval Construction Battalions, known as "Seabees", design, construct, and during times of war, defend, the infrastructure essential for military operations. Seabees were founded in 1942 shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. During World War II, Korea, Vietnam, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and many other peacekeeping missions, the Seabees were called upon to construct thousands of bases, camps, hospitals, piers, and support facilities. The Seabees bulldozed and paved thousands of miles of roads and airstrips around the globe. These engineering feats were accomplished at great speed and in frequently hostile environments. The Seabees also serve during peace time and lend their construction expertise to rebuilding areas affected by natural disasters.

Admiral Byrd

"Upon the bright globe he carved his signature of courage."

While the other memorials along Memorial Avenue commemorate military units and personnel, The Admiral Richard E. Byrd Monument honors an explorer, a different type of hero. As a naval officer, Byrd's spirit of discovery took him to the North and South poles and greatly increased understanding of the polar regions.

Armored Forces

The Armored Forces Memorial commemorates the service of armored forces from World War I until present day.

Armored divisions utilize tanks and other mobile field artillery to support military objectives. The first armored divisions were created in Europe during World War I following the British development of a new weapon that would revolutionize warfare tactics. That weapon was the tank: an armored fighting machine that delivered high firepower, mobility, and armor protection. The first armored divisions in the United States were created after World War I in the late 1930s and were used extensively in World War II. Every major conflict following World War II, and continuing today with the war on terrorism, has seen the use of armored forces. Armored divisions include more than just tanks: armored infantry, armored field artillery, armored engineers, tank destroyer units, and many support units are all integral parts of these forces.

101st Airborne Division

"The 101st…has no history but it has a rendezvous with destiny." (Major General William C. Lee)

The memorial was erected by the 101st Airborne Division Association to commemorate all those soldiers that fought and those who died in that division. During World War II, the 101st helped establish a whole new tactic of warfare-airborne infantry troops- in World War II that is still utilized today.

The idea to use airborne infantry in battle was first tested in the United States with a parachute unit in 1940. By 1942, after studying the British Army's use of parachute troops during the early years of World War II, the concept of airborne troops was endorsed by the U.S. Army and the 101st Airborne Division was formed. The organization of the 101st and other airborne divisions heralded a new era in warfare tactics.

Their distinctive shoulder patches identified members of the 101st as "Screaming Eagles" and they quickly distinguished themselves on the battlefields of World War II, beginning with the D-Day invasion at Normandy, France and ending with the capture of Hitler's mountain retreat. In Vietnam, the 101st fought in many engagements including the Tet Offensive, and was the last U.S. Army division to leave Vietnam. In 1991, the 101st played a pivotal role in cutting off Iraqi forces during Operation Desert Storm. Since then the division served in peacekeeping duties in Haiti, Somalia, Rwanda, and Bosnia. As part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom the 101st was deployed to Afghanistan (2002) and Iraq (2003), respectively.