Chicago Military Monuments

Chicago military monuments can be found all over the city, from Bronzeville to Navy Pier and beyond. Some are subtle, while others are nothing short of spectacular.

Chicago Military Academy

Head down to Bronzeville on the city's lower South Side, where you'll find one of the city's most well-respected war memorials and military monuments - the Chicago Military Academy. The Chicago Military Academy is run by the JROTC (Army's Junior Officer Training Corps). It is America's first public high school run by the JROTC and it's housed in the Eighth Regiment Armory - the first armory in the U.S. to be built for an African American military. The Eighth dates all the way back to 1871. Today, the academy's main focus is "Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders Today." The Chicago Military Academy is the largest in the country.

U.S.S. Chicago anchor

600 E. Grand Ave.
Navy Pier, Chicago


The U.S.S. Chicago anchor is located at bustling Navy Pier. The ship served throughout World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. It is the only ship in history to receive nearly a dozen "E's" for excellence. The ship was decommissioned in the 1980s. Years after being decommissioned and dismantled, the ship's anchor became a permanent fixture at Navy Pier. Since 1995, locals, visitors, and veterans from all over have visited the anchor to pay their respects. The anchor, which was dedicated to the memory of the U.S.S. Chicago, was part of one of three navy vessels named after the Windy City.

Korean War Memorial at Kennedy Park

11320 S. Western Ave., Chicago

Visit the far South Side of Chicago and you'll find a Korean War monument sitting proudly at the 18.16-acre Kennedy Park. This is the first memorial dedicated to the military members who served in the Korean War. Created and erected by the Windy City Veterans Association, the Korean War Memorial at Kennedy Park was dedicated on September 15, 1998.

Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Plaque

North State Street and the Chicago River, Chicago

The Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Plaque is one of many military monuments located in downtown Chicago. Dedicated in 1948, the plaque is located at the State Street Bridge. It sits in honor of the heroes who hailed from Chicago who lost their lives in World War II on the Bataan peninsula and at Corregidor, Philippine Islands. The plaque reads:

"Dedicated to the memory of those gallant heroes from the Chicago area who were members of the besieged garrison on the Bataan peninsula and at Corregidor, Philippine Islands, in World War II. May the courage and fortitude displayed by this group in the face of adversity be a constant inspiration to our citizens."

#Source: By Michelle C. Burton | Yahoo! Contributor Network