Middle School
Field Trips
Thank you for your interest in bringing a group tour to the Virginia War Memorial. We have a meaningful program for student tours which can be custom fitted to your needs. Most school groups allow approximately an hour and a half at the Memorial. We will start the tour in our Hall of Honor Auditorium with an introduction to the Memorial which will include one of our award-winning 15 - 20 minute film series, Virginians At War. Afterwards, students will be led outside to the Memorial’s Shrine of Memory. Students will also have the opportunity to view our Artifact Displays and visit the Memorial Store. There is no charge to visitors and the Memorial is handicapped accessible.
Please complete the form to the right at least two weeks prior to your arrival. We will send a confirmation letter/email along with our guidelines for tour groups that will help to ensure a successful trip.
Suggestions
In an effort to make your visit with us successful, we are offering the following suggestions:
Please review the purpose of the Memorial with your students prior to your visit using the enclosed brochure.
It is important that teachers and chaperones maintain the dignified atmosphere of our Memorial. Please do not allow students to run or roll down the hill outside of the Memorial. We would also request that there be no loud voices in respect to the many Virginians whose names are engraved on the Shrine of Memory. Please refrain from chewing gum while at the Virginia War Memorial.
Please arrive on time as we will have veterans, staff and other volunteers who will greet you and lead you through a meaningful visit. Upon arrival at the Memorial, you may unload the bus at the main door to the Visitor Center. Bus parking is off of 2nd Street.
Groups will enter the Hall of Honor Auditorium where we will conduct an orientation and show one or more oral history films of our veterans that are correlated to Virginia’s Standards of Learning. Next, our volunteers/staff will escort the students to the Shrine of Memory located outside for the next segment of our program.
Students will be given index cards with the names of fallen heroes whose names are etched on the glass and stone walls of the Shrine. Each student will be asked to find that person’s name on the wall. After locating the name, students should return the index cards to the Memorial staff, a volunteer or chaperone.
On occasions, school groups have brought a student who can play TAPS on the trumpet.
If that is the case with your group, we will assemble at the statue of Memory. Our volunteers will lead this part of your visit. Some schools have brought memorial wreaths/bouquets to lay at the foot of the statue.
The final stop for your students will be our Gift Shop and the Artifact Displays in our Visitor’s Center.
Thank you for visiting the Virginia War Memorial!