Arlington, Virginia is teeming with popular historical attractions, including the iconic Iwo Jima Memorial and sprawling Arlington Cemetery. One of the lesser known nods to Arlington County’s storied past is a memorial to local soldiers who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, as well as wars fought in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Initially erected in the 1930s at the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and Highland Street, the Memorial also spent time at Clarendon Circle and later near the Arlington Courthouse before landing in its current location. Hidden in plain sight, this medium-sized monolith, flanked by cannons, now sits in the middle of the crowded intersection of Washington, Wilson, and Clarendon Boulevards, where it has stood since 1986.
The WWI plaque has been a point of contention for some time, as the last two names displayed (Arthur Morgan and Ralph Lowe) are separated from the other names and are accompanied by the word “colored” in parentheses. The plaque was temporarily removed to correct the spelling of the latter man’s name to Ralph Rowe in May 2019, but no other modifications have been made.