Honoring Our Heroes: Explore Muskegon's Military Monuments This Veterans Day
In 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, “The Great War” came to an end. Known as the “war to end all wars,” it was one of the most destructive conflicts in modern history, resulting in the deaths of more than 16 million soldiers and civilians. One year later, Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day,” marking the first anniversary of the end of World War I.
In 1926, Congress passed a resolution to observe Armistice Day annually, which became a national holiday in 1938. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially renamed it “Veterans Day” to honor all U.S. veterans.
Muskegon County proudly honors those who have served our country, both living and deceased. Join us in exploring these Military, Monument, and Memorial sites:
Civil War Monuments in Hackley Park
Standing at each corner of Hackley Park are large bronze statues of Civil War heroes: President Abraham Lincoln and David Farragut, created by artist Charles H. Niehaus, and General Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, sculpted by J. Massey Rhind.
- Address: 350 W Webster Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440
Sailors and Soldiers Monument in Hackley Park
“Not conquest but peace and a united people. To the soldiers and sailors who fought, and to all patriotic men and women who helped preserve our nation in the War of the Rebellion.” In the center of Hackley Park stands the Sailors and Soldiers Monument. The beautiful bronze “Victory” graces a 75-foot granite cylinder. Surrounding the base are four statues representing Infantry, Artillery, Cavalry, and Navy. This monument was created by sculptor Joseph Carabelli and gifted to the city by Charles Hackley on May 30, 1892.
- Address: 350 W Webster Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440
Statue of General Philip Kearny at the Corner of Peck and Terrace
Nicknamed “The One-Armed Devil,” Philip Kearny Jr. was a United States Army officer notable for his leadership in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. Learn more about Kearny and the beautiful Kearny Memorial Park and Fountain here.
- Address: Corner of Peck and Terrace in Downtown Muskegon
USS LST 393 Veterans Museum
While tours are not available during winter, visitors can marvel at the exterior of the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum. Bike or walk along the Lakeshore Trail, or park at the Mart Dock to view this historic vessel and the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” sculpture. The USS LST 393 is one of only two LSTs that have survived in their original configuration. During her service, she won battle stars for the Sicilian occupation, Salerno landings, and the Invasion of Normandy, completing 75 voyages to foreign shores. The museum offers seasonal tours from May to September.
- Address: 560 Mart St, Muskegon, MI 49440
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy at the Mart Dock
The “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” created by sculptor Ari Norris, is located near the bow of the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum. This statue honors Muskegon-born Clarence Zylman, the famed Boogie Woogie Bugler of World War II and the subject of the iconic Andrews Sisters song, later re-recorded by Bette Midler.
- Address: 560 Mart St, Muskegon, MI 49440
USS Silversides Submarine Museum
The USS Silversides is a historic Gato-class submarine that earned 12 battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation for cumulative action over four patrols. She is credited with sinking 23 ships—the third-most of any allied World War II submarine! Tours are available year-round from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Sunday through Saturday. Your combination ticket includes a tour of the submarine, cutter, and indoor museum!
- Address: 1346 Bluff St, Muskegon, MI 49441
Address: 1346 Bluff St, Muskegon, MI 49441
Veteran’s Memorial Park
Located on the causeway at the east end of Muskegon Lake, Veterans Memorial Park spans 50 acres and features a lagoon and a small island accessible via two footbridges. The park boasts several war memorials, a large fountain at the south end, and a Vietnam Memorial to the north. Originally built in 1928, it was formally dedicated on November 11, 1934. Read more about Veterans Memorial Park and its many monuments here.
- Address: M. Causeway, Muskegon, MI 49445
Vietnam War Memorial “Final Approach” at Hidden Cove Park
Tucked inside Hidden Cove Park, a 20-acre park located on Mona Lake in Norton Shores, is the Vietnam War Memorial “Final Approach.” This memorial features a UH-1D helicopter, a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, rising above the park, surrounded by flags, benches, and plaques. Read more here.
- Address: 3941 Grand Haven Rd, Norton Shores, MI 49441