Barkhamsted honored the memory of its sons and daughters who fought to establish, defend, and preserve the nation, beginning with a tribute dated 1776 and erected in 1897, and recorded the names of local people who served in the War of the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the War of the Rebellion, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, including those identified as killed in action and additional names obtained after the memorial's dedication.