Veterans Memorial in Silver Spring Township

The Veterans Memorial in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, is an interactive site dedicated to all American veterans of all wars, all time periods. It consists of five walls, each dedicated to a branch of the armed services, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army and Coast Guard. Each wall is made of a material that the architect thought was a good representation of the service, Air Force, aluminum, Navy, steel, Marines, poured concrete, Army, concrete blocks, Coast Guard, ashlar white stone. Each wall has a window in it, with an etching of a service person in uniform matching the wall dedication. From the front of the memorial, the service persons line up beside each other through the entire set of windows. Each wall also bears the official service seal of each military branch. You have to walk around each wall to reach the reflecting pond. In the pond are markers surrounding the flag with a defensive perimeter and noting the conflicts the United States has been involved in, beginning with the French and Indian wars of the 1700's up to Afghanistan of present day. There is also a blank marker, as we know wars will never end. A US flag is flown 24-7 from the pond center. Bricks and granite plaques dedicated to individual veterans are laid at the entrance to the memorial. The memorial is lit at night around the glass window panes, the reflecting pond and the US flag.