On Memorial Day, it’s time to remember and honor our fallen heroes who served in our armed services.
In the United States, it’s Memorial Day today, a day to honor and mourn America’s fallen heroes, those who died while serving the nation in the U.S. Armed Forces. President Abraham Lincoln said,
“A nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”
Bob Dylan, American Nobel Laureate in Literature, clearly understands who American heroes truly are. Mr. Dylan defined hero in 1985 saying,
“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom”
Memorial Day gives Americans a special opportunity to do more than party during the long weekend. It gives Americans a chance to honor and remember our fallen American military heroes.
American service members have understood that responsibility and day after day have taken ownership of it. Over time, many served the nation in its darkest hours and the darkest hours of humanity. They have defended the nation with their energy, faith and far too often, their lives.
Memorial Day gives each American a special opportunity to do more than party, go to the beach or take a vacation. It gives us a chance to honor the memory of our service members who gave their lives to ensure our nation’s safety and freedom.
By the time you have read this column, as is my custom to honor and remember those service members who died defending our nation, I will have visited Washington Square, Philadelphia, one of the five original City squares laid out in 1682. In the Square, I will have stood in silent remembrance before the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier. Lying underneath the Square are more than one thousand unknown soldiers of George Washington’s Army.
Travel offers every American the opportunity to learn about our military’s history of service and sacrifice, and honor them for it.
There are many travel destinations at which by learning about America’s military history and the greatness of its heroes, we can honor them. This year, I’ve been concentrating on visiting locations where our military served in the fight to bring the nascent American nation to life, in and around America’s birthplace, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the U.S.’ first World Heritage City.
The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, region has many locations where Americans can learn about their history and heritage and our military members’ great service to allow us to be a nation of free people.
Independence National Historic Park – If there is a single place where America came to life, it is here at Independence National Historic Park in the heart of the Old City area of Philadelphia. Located in the Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, Carpenter’s Hall, Congress Hall, Old City Hall, the Declaration House, Franklin Court and Washington Square, among other historic locations.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress convened in Independence Hall from 1775 to 1781. On June 14, 1775 they founded the Continental Army and unanimously appointed George Washington as its commander-in-chief. On July 4, 1776, inside Independence Hall, 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, which was unanimously adopted by the colonies. It was mostly written in a second floor apartment of what is now known as the Declaration House (reconstructed in 1975), a short walk from Independence Hall.
Under the Articles of Confederation, Philadelphia became the new nation’s first capital. The first Congress of the Confederation met in Independence Hall from March 1, 1781, to June 21, 1783.
From May 25 to September 17, 1787, Independence Hall hosted America’s Constitutional Convention where the U.S. Constitution, now the world’s longest-standing written and codified national constitution, was created and ratified.
Near and in Philadelphia are Washington Crossing Historic Park, Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site and Fort Mifflin, where Americans can see first-hand sites that were extremely important during the war against British tyranny.
Washington Crossing Historic Park (34 miles north of Philadelphia) – By late 1776 the Continental Army under General Washington was not doing well. Morale among the troops was dismal. The army was having to deal with a harsh Pennsylvania winter and food was scarce. Desertions and expiring enlistments were shrinking the army that winter. Then in December, Washington put together a daring plan to cross the Delaware River at night, march to Trenton and attack the Hessians there. Starting on December 25, 1776, Washington and his 2,400 men began to cross the ice-choked river in large Durham boats. It took hours to cross during a blinding snow storm. They then marched 10 miles to Trenton. Supporting brigades under the commands of Generals Cadwalder and Ewing never made it to Trenton. On the morning of December 26, Washington and his army, with no assistance, defeated the Hessians and reignited hope that they could achieve victory over the British. If you’re in the Philadelphia region in December, the park will run crossing reenactments on both December 14 and 25.
Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site (37 miles southwest of Philadelphia) – This is the site of the Battle of Brandywine, fought on September 11, 1777. It was a decisive British victory and cleared a path directly to the American capital of Philadelphia. Approximately 30,000 American and British soldiers fought each other here in the largest land battle of the American Revolution. Despite being led by Generals Washington, Wayne, Marquis de Lafayette and Knox, the Continental Army was defeated. Roam this site to get a feel for this significant battle and the bravery that was exhibited by the Continental and British armies.
Fort Mifflin (near Philadelphia International Airport) – After the British defeated the Continental Army at Brandywine, they marched into Philadelphia while the Continental Congress temporarily fled the City, but British General William Howe had a problem. The Continental Army was to the north, east and west and Howe’s troops were in desperate need of supplies. The British fleet in Delaware Bay had the supplies, but had to sail up the Delaware River to get to Philadelphia. Unfortunately for Howe, that meant getting past the Americans primarily at Fort Mifflin, just south of the City on Mud Island, and Fort Mercer across the Delaware River in New Jersey.
The 400 men at Fort Mifflin, cold and starving, overwhelmingly out-gunned, held off the British Navy until November 15, when they escaped across the river to New Jersey. This gave Washington the time needed to move his troops to Valley Forge where, despite the horrid conditions there, they were able to rebuild after the defeat at Brandywine. Each year in November there is a reenactment of the Siege of Fort Mifflin. Everyone can enjoy it and learn about some of the heroes of the American Revolution.
While no battles were fought at Valley Forge, it was crucially important to the American cause of gaining freedom from the monarchy of British King George III.
Valley Forge National Historical Park (25 miles west of Philadelphia) – No battle was fought at Valley Forge, but the Continental Army encampment was none the less instrumental in the American victory over the British. Valley Forge was the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army, led by General George Washington. The sacrifice and perseverance of the men encamped there during that severe and snowy Philadelphia area winter — frequently chilled to the bone and often wet and suffering from disease — brought honor to themselves during the extraordinary birth of the U.S. A Valley Forge visit to help understand the historic qualities of the encampment is always worthwhile.
Learning about the American Revolution and the bravery, perseverance and sacrifice of our armed service heroes is essential because it helped mold the ideals of liberty and self-government. Through it, we can learn about the responsibility of every citizen to carry on America’s founding principles, no matter the challenge, while upholding the Constitution for every American equally. We can’t ever forget those Revolutionary War lessons and heroes.
(Image: Fort Mifflin – Revolutionary War reenactment. Copyright © 2025 NSL Photography. All Rights Reserved. All TDM and AI Training are Prohibited.)
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
