The memorial honors those who gallantly served during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and Operation Desert Storm; the POW/MIA from all wars; and the women of all wars who unselfishly gave so that others might live. It also pays tribute to those who served and those who sacrificed, and to those who wept and waited because of the Vietnam War. The recorded totals are WWI - 3,350, WWII - 78,777, Korea - 8,172, Vietnam - 2,399, and Desert Storm - 21. Dedicated November 10, 1991, it also preserves within a vault the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice: Robert E. Ash, Lawrence R. Detwiler Jr., Rudolph F. Dungee, Thomas J. Hartman, James A. Kelly, John A. Polefka, Richard Powell, and Timothy Vontor.