The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) launched a free, hourlong tour of Washington's most significant memorials, offering an intimate look at the state's history of service and sacrifice.
The new tour, developed by the DES, which oversees the Washington State Capitol Campus, allows visitors to explore and learn about six key memorials honoring Washingtonians who have served in the military, the Red Cross and law enforcement.
The stops include several sites in and around Olympia.
Completed in 1938, the monument features a 12-foot statue of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, standing behind life-sized statues of a sailor, soldier, marine and a Red Cross nurse. This represents the main forces of America's WWI military and medical support.
Dedicated on Nov. 7, 1976, with U.S. Air Force skydivers participating, the Capitol Campus' Medal of Honor Memorial is an obelisk identical to the Valley Forge Pennsylvania monument. The names of the recipients of the Medal of Honor were inscribed on the monument.
This memorial, one of the nation's earliest honoring World War II veterans, pays tribute to nearly 6,000 Washingtonians who lost their lives. Designed by Olympia artist Simon Kogan, it features five, 14-foot bronze blades curved to mirror the capitol dome. Each blade represents a military branch, with ghostly figures formed by etching the names of the fallen.
Large granite stones mark major battles by year, while more than 3,000 granite tiles bear personal messages from donors.
A poignant bronze plaque reads: "When my country called, I answered ... When my country asked, I gave … Reach out now, across the years and through the tears … Remember me" – A WWII Veteran.
The Vietnam Veteran Memorial was dedicated on Nov. 11, 1982, with a scroll of state casualties placed inside by then-Gov. John Spellman. Veterans were dissatisfied with the hidden names, leading to the creation of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, which was dedicated on May 25, 1987.
Subsequently, local POW/MIA support groups successfully lobbied to repurpose the original monument for prisoners of war and military personnel missing in action, with state approval the following year. The original marble monument was refitted with a new granite top inscribed:
"In gratitude to those who sacrificed their freedom in the service of our country we, the citizens of the State of Washington, dedicate this monument to honor all former American prisoners of war, those still missing, and those Americans who still be held prisoner."
This is the second Vietnam memorial on the Capitol Campus, built after veterans advocated for a memorial that would better honor their comrades who fought in the Vietnam War and never made it back home. The memorial is inscribed with the names of 1,124 state residents killed or missing in action.
This memorial is dedicated to law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty. The names of Washington law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty are inscribed on the memorial along with: "Their duty was to serve. Our duty is to remember."
While the Korean War Memorial is not physically visited, its significance as the nation's first state-sponsored Korean War memorial is discussed.
Tours are available by appointment on weekdays, based on staff availability. Groups of up to 25 people can be accommodated. People interested in scheduling a tour can email tours@des.wa.gov at least two business days in advance.
Editor's note: This article was written by a human reporter with some assistance from artificial intelligence. Our team carefully reviewed and edited all information to ensure accuracy and relevance.
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