A monument honors those who served in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Merchant Marine, and U.S. Navy, and records local service across the Revolutionary War, Blackhawk War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon and Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf War, and veterans. It also sets apart the honored dead, those killed in action who gave their lives on the altar of freedom so that others may live, and lists by name the men and women associated with each conflict, including names added after 2007.