Veteran's Memorial Plaza

Veteran's Memorial Plaza. . The military history of the United States spans a period of more than two centuries. During these years, the United States evolved from a new nation fighting Great Britain for independence (1775-1783), through the monumental American Civil War (1861-1865) and, after collaborating in triumph during World War II (1941-1945), the United States became the world's sole remaining superpower from the late 20th century to present. As of 2018, the U.S. Armed Forces consists of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. , The Battle Cross Monument was presented to the City of Van Buren by Chase Haynes to show his support for veterans of the past, present and future. Chase raised the money locally to have the monument completed, with his desire to see it displayed in a fitting place in the Veterans Park. The Battle Cross or Field Cross origin may go all the way back to the Civil War, but prominently came into use during World War I and World War II. The latest version of the battle cross began with the Gulf War: rifle, helmet, boots and dog tags, becoming a symbol of loss, of mourning and closure for the living. Interpretations may vary regarding the meaning of the components and how they are placed. The rifle facing downward means the soldier was killed in action. A rifle with a bayonet stuck in the ground tells us the soldier went down fighting. The placement of the boots and the dog tags tells us the soldier has marched his final march to battle and will never be forgotten., "Proper burial of the dead, accompanied by a degree of formalized mourning, is as necessary for those who die in battle as it is for those who perish in more peaceful circumstances. Having some sort of focus for mourning is useful for the dead soldiers' comrades" , Richard Holmes, author , Acts of War: The Behavior of Men in Battle, The modern United States Army has its roots in the Continental Army which was formed, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. Congress created the United States Army on June 14, 1784 after the end of the war to replace the disbanded Continental Army. From its formation, the United States Army has been the primary land based part of the United States Armed Forces. The Army's main responsibility has been fighting land battles and military occupation. The U.S. Army is made up of three components: the active component, the Regular Army, and two reserve components, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Both reserve components are primarily composed of part-time soldiers who train once a month and conduct two to three weeks of annual training each year. While the Army National Guard is organized, trained and equipped as a component of the U.S. Army, when it is not in federal service it is under the command of individual state and territorial governors. , United States Navy – The naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces is the largest and most capable navy in the world, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage and the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet. The U.S. Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War. The 21st century U.S. Navy maintains a sizable global presence, deploying in strength in such areas as the Western Pacific, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean. It is a blue-water navy with the ability to project force onto the littoral regions of the world, engage in forward deployments during peacetime and rapidly respond to regional crises, making it a frequent actor in U.S. foreign and military policy. The United States Navy Reserve force, formally founded in 1915, has transferred from a force in waiting to an integral component in carrying out the mission of the U.S. Navy. , The US Marine Corps traces its institutional roots to the Continental Marines of the American Revolutionary War, by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on 10 November 1775. The Marine Corps was formed as a sea borne ground force of sorts, whose primary mission was the protection of naval ships and bases. Over time that role has evolved to a force in readiness that could respond anywhere in the world on short notice. Today they remain in that role, maintaining forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) to respond to anything that arises that the President needs to respond to, whether it be humanitarian disasters such the earthquake in Haiti or the Tsunami in the Pacific. In wartime, the Marine Corps is typically used as a hard hitting assault force which while great for combined arms destruction of our nations enemy was never structured for a long term sustained occupation overseas. , The United States Air Force is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. Initially established as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. The Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated ISR, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control. Along with conducting independent air and space operations, the U.S. Air Force provides air support for land and naval forces and aids in the recovery of troops in the field. As of 2018, the service operates more than 5,369 military aircraft, 406 ICBMs and 170 military satellites., The history of the United States Coast Guard goes back to the United States Revenue Cutter Service, which was founded on 4 August 1790 as part of the Department of the Treasury. The Revenue Cutter Service and the United States Life-Saving Service were merged to become the Coast Guard, established January 28, 1915, to be a military service and a uniformed branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times. The Coast Guard became part of the Department of Homeland Security, on February 25, 2003 during peace time and can be transferred to the U.S. Department of the U.S. Navy by the U.S. President or the Congress in times of war. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the U.S. military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. , [captions] , "It's not a lot, but is one small way, a local way, we can honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in freedom". , -Chase Haynes, Eagle Scout, Troop 45, Van Buren, Representing POW/MIA families across the nation, Mr. Gary Moon and Ms. Karen Moon Powell raise the POW/MIA flag during the park dedication. Their father Major Walter Moon, Infantry, United States Army was serving in an advisory capacity in Laos when he was captured by hostile forces in April 1961. After an escape attempt, Major Moon was mortally wounded by his captors in July, 1961. His remains like many others have never been returned to the United States.