MacArthur Memorial, The - Norfolk - TravBuddy

OFFICIAL WEB SITE: http://www.macarthurmemorial.org/

The MacArthur Memorial, located in MacArthur Square adjacent to MacArthur Center Mall (the largest mall in the area), is a beautiful tribute to this legendary 5-Star General, Douglas MacAurthur. The MacAurthur Square actually comprises of 4 separate buildings with bougenvillea flowers lining the walkways and benches surround the courtyard.

Originally constructed in 1850 to serve as the City Hall and Courthouse for Norfolk, Virginia, the MacAurthur Memorial is a stirring museum, tomb, theater, and research archive library. Several of the displays are interactive with video and audio presentations. The MacAurthur family donated many of the General's books, papers, gifts, uniforms (including his purple West Point Academy Robe with his "A" letter for baseball), personal weapons, and family heir looms. Since MacAuthur was an Army brat, he called Norfolk, VA 'home" because his mother was from Norfolk.

The tomb in the rotunda contains the marbleized tombs of General MacAurthur and his wife, surrounded by the words of his most inspirational speeches and locations where he served, along with all of his command flags.

Our tour guide was retired US Army and did an excellent job showing us around, and was very knowledgeable, along with some humor about the Air Force in his gibe delivery. Because of MacAuthur's brilliance as a military strategist, the tour constantly provides informitive tidbits of the man, the family, the General, the hero, and the dedication MacAurthur exuded toward his country, our allies and all mankind. There are panoramas with audio dialog detailing each campaign, including WWI, WWII and Korea. A 1/32 scale model of the torpedo boat which allowed MacAurthur to finally escape from the Japanese envolopment of the Philippines to Australia, when he uttered the famous phrases "I shall return" and "I have returned" on the beach at Luzon.

Donations are accepted and the research library is quite extensive. Parking at the MacAurthur Center Mall can be validated for a discount, but I ended up paying $2.00 for 4 hours of parking.

There are famous generals in many countires, but none compare to the "Duty, Honor, Country" motto of Douglas MacAurthur. His father Aurthur MacAurthur was also a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, along with Douglas MacAurthur. The only other father-son pair to receive the nation's highest award for valor were Presidents Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt. The awards and gifts received from other countries are on display, along with the highly impressive military awards, reaching over 10 rows of ribbons on his uniform and still assessed as incomplete by historians. Awards in addition to the Medal of Honor include: 6 Silver Stars, Bronze Star with Valor, Air Medal, Purple Heart, among many others. Douglas MacAurthur was also a strong supporter of air power, despite his appointment to be a judge during General Billy Mitchell's court martial for talking to the press about the benefits and capabilities for bombers to defend against battleships off the coast of America.

For a truly insiprational account of MacAuthur's illustriuos military career, one must only visit the MacAuthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA to find what makes a real American hero.