Hampden Township near Enola in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Battlefield Cross
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 28, 2026
1. Battlefield Cross Marker
The iconic symbol of sacrifice, honor, and respect for those who have given all. During the Civil War, it is said the battlefield cross originated to signify the location of a dead soldier who, during a temporary truce, needed to be gathered and buried. The latest variation of the battlefield cross, as depicted, began with the Gulf War in 1991 and continued with Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom has become a symbol of loss, mourning, and closure for the living.
"Proper burial of the dead, accompanied by a degree of formalized mourning, is as necessary for those who die in battle... Having some sort of focus for mourning is useful for the dead soldier's comrades." -Richard Holmes
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Dedicated to All POW/MIA:
Never Forgotten
In Honor of all Veterans, Past, Present, and Future
Erected by Hampden Township and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1991.
Location. 40° 17.449′ N, 76° 58.797′ W. Memorial is near Enola, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in Hampden Township.
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Regionally, this memorial is in South-Central Pennsylvania and in Greater Harrisburg. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Path of Honor (a few steps from this marker); Operation Enduring Freedom (a few steps from this marker); USS Chicago (SSN-721) (a few steps from this marker); Operation Iraqi Freedom (a few steps from this marker); Desert Shield/Desert Storm (within shouting distance of this marker); Captain Leon Lock Veterans Memorial Amphitheater (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 28, 2026
2. POW/MIA Marker near the Battlefield Cross
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 28, 2026
3. Battlefield Cross and Markers
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 15, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
