Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Kansas All Veterans Memorial Park
AO Edited

All Veterans Memorial Park

A park to honor all U.S. Armed Forces veterans, and Emporia's status as the founding city of Veterans Day.

Emporia, Kansas

Added By
Ian Lefkowitz
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
A view of All Veterans Memorial Park.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
A view of All Veterans Memorial Park.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
A sign welcoming visitors to All Veterans Memorial Park   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
The Sherman tank is displayed next to one of the Tablets of Honor.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
The Huey helicopter is part of the park’s Vietnam War memorial.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
A purple heart recognizing veterans from all wars.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In 1953, a shoe salesman named Albert J. King, still mourning the loss of his nephew, John Cooper, during World War II, had a proposal for the city of Emporia, Kansas. Why not adapt Armistice Day, a holiday established to honor World War I veterans, into a holiday for all veterans? Through that idea, Veterans Day came to Emporia, and soon after to the entire United States as well.

Emporia first celebrated Veterans Day on November 11, 1953. The next year, U.S. Representative Ed Rees, also from Emporia, brought a bill to Congress changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. U.S. President and fellow Kansan Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law on May 26, 1954, and the first national Veterans Day was celebrated later that year.

As with much history, this narrative is somewhat complicated by reality. In particular, Birmingham, Alabama, also has a strong claim on Veterans Day, due to the efforts of World War II veteran Raymond Weeks to establish a Veterans Day in 1947. To share credit, Birmingham was named the “first city of Veterans Day” by the Senate, while Emporia was proclaimed the “Founding City of Veterans Day” by the House. Veterans Day, much like success, has many fathers.

On May 26, 1991,  to cement Emporia’s legacy as the home of Veterans Day, a park was opened to honor U.S. veterans of all wars. Displays at the memorial include a World War II M-4A6 Sherman army tank, and a Huey helicopter from the Vietnam War. Tablets of Honor recognize individual veterans through donated plaques. Each year in November, the town observes All Veterans Tribute Week in recognition of all veterans and Emporia's history.

Related Tags

Memorials Holidays World War Ii Military History

Know Before You Go

All Veterans Memorial Park is free and open to the public daily from sunrise until 11:00 p.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

ianlefk

Published

September 6, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.travelks.com/blog/stories/post/veterans-day-in-kansas-the-history-behind-the-holiday/
  • https://visitemporia.com/people/alvin-king/
  • https://www.wsfa.com/story/20150594/us-senate-declares-birmingham-as-first-home-of-veterans-day/
All Veterans Memorial Park
931 S Commercial St
Emporia, Kansas, 66801
United States
38.386511, -96.181114
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

National Memorial to Fallen Educators

Emporia, Kansas

miles away

Tallgrass Prairie Bison

Strong City, Kansas

miles away

Knute Rockne Memorial

Matfield Green, Kansas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Kansas

Kansas

United States

Places 126
Stories 12

Nearby Places

National Memorial to Fallen Educators

Emporia, Kansas

miles away

Tallgrass Prairie Bison

Strong City, Kansas

miles away

Knute Rockne Memorial

Matfield Green, Kansas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Kansas

Kansas

United States

Places 126
Stories 12

Related Places

  • Alresford, England

    Grave of Hambone Jr.

    This grave remembers the beloved canine companion of soldiers far from home.

  • Some names were clear as day, Eddie Meyer engraved the date, name and location

    Southampton, England

    The D-Day Wall

    This little-known wall in Southampton stands as one of the most unique and personal monuments to D-Day.

  • The Campbeltown, lodged deep in the gate of the Normandie Dock

    Falmouth, England

    St. Nazaire Raid Memorial

    This modest site memorializes a World War II mission described without hyperbole as “the greatest raid of all.”

  • Kneževo, Serbia

    Spomenik Mramor

    A neglected spomenik overlooking the beautiful Kopaonik Mountains.

  • The Kalavryta Sacrifice Memorial.

    Kalavryta, Greece

    Kalavryta Sacrifice Memorial

    A solemn reminder of the infamous World War II war crime that massacred almost all the men in a small Greek town.

  • Jinja War Cemetery.

    Jinja, Uganda

    Jinja War Cemetery

    The final resting place of soldiers who fell during the First and Second World Wars.

  • Wojtek the Soldier Bear, Duns.

    Duns, Scotland

    Scottish Borders Wojtek the Soldier Bear

    The beloved war-time celebrity spent time in the area before retiring to the Edinburgh Zoo.

  • Slavín.

    Bratislava, Slovakia

    Slavín

    Thousands of slain Soviet soldiers are buried within the shadow of this enormous obelisk.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.