Veterans Day is a significant day in the United States dedicated to honoring all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It was established as a federal holiday on Nov. 11, 1938. This date was chosen to commemorate the end of World War I. Along with the rest of the United States, Illinois has many celebrations and ceremonies to bring the community together to honor our troops. Additionally, there are monuments across Illinois that serve as symbols to remember our heroes. Visiting a monument on Veterans Day provides the opportunity to remember and never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Here are ten monuments across the state to visit on Veterans Day:

1. World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial
Oak Ridge Cemetery – 1441 Monument Ave., Springfield, Illinois
The World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial was constructed on Dec. 4, 2004 to honor the 987,000 men and women from the state who served our country during World War II. 22,000 Illinois citizens gave their lives in pursuit of liberty.

2. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1500 Monument Ave., Springfield, Illinois
The Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in May 1988. The memorial incorporates five black granite walls inscribed with the 2,970 names of Illinoisans who died or are still missing. Each branch of service is also listed.

3. Korean War Memorial
1500 Monument Ave., Springfield, Illinois
The Illinois Korean War Memorial was dedicated on June 16, 1996. The monument's centerpiece is a 12-foot bronze bell surrounded by four larger-than-life warriors representing the five branches of the armed forces - Army, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines. The names of over 1,700 Illinoisans killed in Korea are inscribed along eight walls of the memorial's granite base.

4. Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall
229 Main St., Marseilles, Illinois
On June 19, 2004, a granite memorial wall was dedicated commemorating the servicemen and women who have lost their lives in worldwide conflicts since 1979. The names on the wall represent our fallen heroes from locations including Panama, Lebanon, the Balkans, Grenada, Somalia, Haiti, USS Cole, USS Stark, terrorist attacks in Italy, Greece, Scotland, and the current conflicts in the Middle East.

5. Purple Heart Memorial
1500 Monument Ave., Springfield, Illinois
The Illinois Purple Heart Memorial honors recipients of the Purple Heart killed or wounded during war. Dedicated in 2016, the Memorial stands between the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial and World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial.

6. Elkhart Veterans Memorial
Veterans Memorial Park, 105 Governor Oglesby St., Elkhart, Illinois
Dedicated to local veterans of wars, the “Spirit of America” statue was gifted to the Village of Elkhart and the Elkhart American Legion by returning veterans after World War I to honor those who didn’t make it back home after the war. Plaques have been added to the statue with names of village veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and all veterans killed in action from Elkhart during past wars.

7. North Chicago Veterans Memorial Park
1807 Sheridan Rd., North Chicago, Illinois
On Sept. 3, 1999, the WWII Black Navy Veterans of Great Lakes Memorial Foundation dedicated a veterans memorial in North Chicago. The memorial honors African American veterans from World War II. It includes a special dedication to the Golden13, who were the first African American officers commissioned by the Navy.

8. O’Fallon Veterans Monument
First Baptist Church of O'Fallon – 1111 E. Highway 50, O’Fallon, Illinois
The monument is a continuous tribute to O'Fallon's veterans, with names being
added twice a year. Dedicated on Memorial Day in 2006, the O'Fallon Veterans Monument is the largest in the area and is located on a beautifully landscaped acre of ground.

9. Spaulding Veterans Memorial Wall
130 Illinois Route 54, Spaulding, Illinois
Established Sept. 29, 2012, the Spaulding Veterans Memorial Wall provides a space to honor all veterans. It is a living memorial wall for all United States veterans.

10. Hillsboro Area Veterans Memorial
299 Pleasant St., Hillsboro, Illinois
The Hillsboro Area Veterans Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day, Nov. 1, 2005. The names of more than 4,000 veterans from the Hillsboro area, both living and deceased, appear on stones arranged in a circle around the center flagpole. Emblems of the six branches of the U.S. military and the quote, “Lest We Forget” grace the arched concrete wall that forms the backdrop to the memorial. It includes all wars and all branches of government.