When we think of American battle heroes, images of men fighting bravely overseas on behalf of oppressed and subjugated peoples around the world may come to mind.
Captain John Paul Jones became an American naval legend when he led the Bonhomme Richard to an incredible victory over the HMS Serapis off the coast of England during the American Revolutionary War.
The American Expeditionary Force ended World War I fighting in Western Europe.
The Marines gave America one of its most heroic and memorable images during the final months of World War II when they raised the Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima, far away in the Pacific Ocean.
Visit 5 Places That Inspired America’s Favorite Songs, Books, and Movies
On February 14, 2024, a small American flag was placed next to the graves of African-American soldiers of the 1st Mississippi Infantry, who fought in the American Civil War, at Vicksburg National Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
But you don’t have to travel overseas to follow in the footsteps of America’s battlefield heroes or reflect on the sacrifices of those who gave their lives here at home.
Here are five U.S. destinations that tell the story of the price of freedom.
Hawaii — Pearl Harbor
The history of World War II lives on infamously in the heart of Honolulu, with Pearl Harbor remaining a powerful testament to American tragedy and resolve.
At the Arizona Memorial in Honolulu, a lei is placed in front of a list of the names of servicemen who died aboard the USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. (Getty Images)
The highlight of the visit is the impressive memorial to the USS Arizona, which catastrophically exploded on December 7, 1941, and serves as the grave of the 1,102 sailors who died in that Sunday morning attack.
Hawaii’s hidden treasures include these historic war memorials on Oahu
Observers say the Arizona is still in tears and oil is still leaking from the ship. Other attractions include Hickam Field, where American planes were shot down on the ground without a chance to return fire, and the USS Missouri battleship.
Though the mighty battleship was not at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack, it remains a testament to American resolve and victory.
Japan signed the Instrument of surrender ending World War II aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, less than four years after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Louisiana — Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve
Visitors place flowers at veterans’ graves at Chalmette National Cemetery in Chalmette, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans, next to the Chalmette Battlefield, site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The vast landscape celebrates one of the Earth’s unique ecosystems and cultures, along with America’s dramatic history.
The park is in the heart of bayou country near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Attractions include Chalmette Battlefield, where Andrew Jackson led a diverse American army to victory over the British at the end of the War of 1812, and Chalmette National Cemetery, where the remains of veterans from that battle, the Civil War, and other conflicts are laid to rest.
From Alabama to Texas, these are the places to travel in the USA to experience science and innovation
Barataria Preserve is an enchanting 26,000-acre wilderness of hardwood forests and bayous where you can see alligators and other swamp creatures in their natural habitat.
Maryland — Annapolis
Graduating cadets toss their hats in the air during the conclusion of the U.S. Naval Academy’s Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, May 26, 2023, at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. (Drew Ungerer/Getty Images)
There’s no better place to celebrate the nation’s maritime connection than in Maryland’s capital city, which also served as the nation’s capital for a short time in 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the American War of Independence.
Annapolis is home to the United States Naval Academy and is known as the “Sailing Capital of the United States,” and its colonial downtown is a great place to explore and sample Maryland’s specialty oysters and crabs at local favorites like Middleton’s and Cantler’s.
For more lifestyle stories, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
Annapolis is the epicenter of the state’s delicious crab and oyster journey, boasting the finest delicacies from the Chesapeake Bay.
Mississippi — Vicksburg National Military Park
A family poses for a photo at the entrance to Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, Mississippi. (Joe Soam/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Civil War Siege of Vicksburg ended after six weeks with victory for Ulysses S. Grant’s Union forces on July 4, 1863, one day after Federal troops had defeated Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1,000 miles to the northeast.
Vicksburg’s Unforgettable Park is now known for its nearly 1,400 monuments and markers representing all 32 states that sent soldiers here, as well as two large cemeteries that bury the Confederate and Union war dead.
Other attractions in the national park include the USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum, a Union ironclad ship that patrolled the Mississippi River. Grant’s success at Vicksburg led to him becoming commander of the Union Army the following year, and ultimately president.
Click here to sign up for our lifestyle newsletter
But his ruthless siege nearly starved Vicksburg’s residents, and the city did not celebrate Independence Day again until 1947, when World War II hero General Dwight Eisenhower visited and spoke.
Pennsylvania — Gettysburg National Military Park
A restored cannon in a Union position along Cemetery Ridge points toward the battlefield at Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (Tim Sloane/AFP via Getty Images)
The staggering human sacrifice made in defense of our country can be seen on this vast battlefield in rural south-central Pennsylvania.
The Battle of Gettysburg, in which some 160,000 soldiers fought for three days, turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the Union. About 50,000 soldiers were killed or wounded on both sides. It remains the largest battle in North American history.
America’s battlefield heroes and their sacrifices are documented at several travel spots you can visit to immerse yourself in history. (Getty Images)
Click here to get the FOX News app
Today, visitors can stand where Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain ordered his 20th Maine Regiment to draw bayonets and charge Little Round Top to secure the southern end of the Union line; follow in the footsteps of the brave Confederate soldiers massacred in Pickett’s Charge on that decisive day of the battle; or drive across the vast battlefield and explore the hundreds of haunting monuments that still dot the landscape.
