‘Read their names, remember their stories’: National Military Monument honors service members past and present

WASHINGTON — Dedicated to more than 41 million men and women who have served in the armed forces, USAA officially unveiled the National Military Monument on Tuesday on the National Mall.

“Every name represents a life. Every life represents a story, a family, a sacrifice. Together, those millions of stories become the flags they serve, because our flag has always been more than cloth or color. It has represented people, people who choose service over self,” USAA CEO Juan Andrade said.

The 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 45 seconds, the screens on both sides of the monument will show the names of 1,500 veterans and former service members, compiled from military records and public databases.

Actively serving members of the military and their families can submit a request online to have their names added, said Rebekah Nelson, communications director for USAA.

“Tonight, my charge is simple: read their names, remember their stories and recommit to the idea they swore to defend — an idea still powerful, still imperfect, still worth serving,” said Gen. Christopher Mahoney, the 13th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mahoney, the second-highest-ranked military officer in the United States, reiterated the military’s oath to the U.S. Constitution and acknowledged the role of service members’ families.

“Behind every one of those names is another set of names: the spouses, the children, parents, friends. They didn’t take the oath, but they carry the weight,” Mahoney said. “So when we see these names, I encourage you, behind each name, we should see a formation — a formation of warriors and their families. A formation that stretches across 250 years — not perfect years, not easy years, but years held together by commitment, by duty and by service.”

The National Military Monument, located in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., July 28, 2026. The monument will honor service members from all six branches of the military. (Emely Miranda-Aguilar/Stars and Stripes)

The monument was introduced in a ceremony that began with a short pause in remembrance for Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was honored earlier in the day a few miles away at the U.S. Capitol.

The speeches were preceded by performances by the U.S. Army Band, a presentation of the colors and the singing of the National Anthem by a Marine soloist. A demonstration by the Navy Ceremonial Drill Team drew cheers and applause from the crowd of nearly 50 people present for the ceremony, as well as from nearby tourists.

USAA employees stationed around the memorial were there to help visitors search for their loved ones’ names. Families were invited to take a picture with the names that appeared on the sides of the monument.

“I was really struck by the emotional response that it generated in me, and in very a large number of family members who were standing in line, waiting to put their names in to have their veteran’s name put up on the big board,” said retired Adm. Bill Moran, the vice chief of Naval Operations from 2016 to 2019, during the unveiling ceremony.

Angela Feh, who was visiting with her family from Minnesota, said that, for her, the memorial hit home. Her sister currently serves in the Navy.

“This memorial is very beautiful, and I feel blessed that people sacrificed, and I’m grateful to them,” Feh said.

Angela Feh and her family pose in front of the USAA National Military Monument in Washington on July 28, 2026. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)

Nelson commented that most of the monuments on the National Mall are for fallen service members but there aren’t any for those who came home.

“There’s not a monument that honors somebody who just raised their right hand and said, ‘I would die for my country.’ It’s really cool. This does that, right? And so we are very lucky to be able to have this,” Nelson said.

The monument will be on display through Aug. 23. However, Nelson said USAA would like to keep it up until Veterans Day or possibly have it travel around the country.

Service members and their families who aren’t able to visit the monument in person are able to search for names on USAA’s website.