Directly behind the Memorial and the U.S. Flag is the Patriot's Walkway. This series of seven informational/educational kiosks outline our American military history. It is focused on the daily lives of the individual soldier, sailor, marine, and airman. The kiosks tell the story of the American veterans from the birth of our nation to the present day and the sacrifices they have made to keep our great nation free. The walkway, with its maps, drawings and photographs of citizen-soldiers in uniform - dating back to Lexington and concord in 1775, tells the story of our country’s major wars and the men and women who fought the battles that gained and have maintained our freedom and liberty for over 238 years. Theirs is a story of courage, sacrifice, and valor. Each soldier, marine, sailor and airman tells the visitor of his and her personal account. The walkway helps students of today understand our nation’s armed conflicts, the threats we faced, the “Cold War”, and puts them in context with today’s events. While the walkway with its kiosks and panels are simple, the story of our nation’s survival against tyranny and oppression is not. When we ask our youngsters and high school students how many of their fathers and mothers saw duty in the Persian gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the response comes from a few. Others are unaffected and unknowing. Here is a living opportunity for them, and all who visit - to know the history, understand the commitment of servicemen and women, begin to appreciate the cost of freedom, and feel the sacrifice when they read the casualty figures. Students will come to realize that the freedoms they enjoy – came, and still come today, at a very high price.

Walk the patriots walkway and experience your nation’s history of armed conflict that continues to this very day - with men and women serving and sacrificing their lives in defense of this great nation – with an oath the ends - “… so help me God”. And never forget the sacrifice of the families left behind to cope with the separations and the loss of loved ones.