Engraved on its stone and glass walls, the Shrine of Memory originally had the names of Virginians who died as a result of hostile action in World War II and Korea.
An addition was dedicated in 1981 to honor those killed in the Vietnam War, and in 1996 the names of those killed in the Persian Gulf were added. There are close to a total of 12,000 names from: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf War. These names are arranged first by counties and cities and then alphabetically.
At the southern end of the Shrine is the statue Memory. Designed by Leo Friedlander and sculpted by Joseph Campo and William Kapp, this majestic monument, which is carved from 100,000 pound of white marble and stands 23 feet tall, reflects both the great sorrow and pride felt by Virginians for their fallen brothers and sisters.
At the base of Memory is the Torch of Liberty, an eternal flame representing patriotism that is everlasting. Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from Virginia, headed by General Alexander Vandegrift, U.S. Marine and the widows and mothers of deceased Congressional Medial of Honor recipients from Virginia lit this torch in February 1956.
