Adjacent to the Valley Forge National Historic Park outside Philadelphia, although not affiliated with it, nestled in the wooded hills above the Schuylkill River, is a unique, little known living memorial dedicated to the men and women who have sacrificed and, often times, given their life in service to America.
The Medal of Honor Grove, conceived in 1942 and located on the grounds of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, is a 52-acre woodland memorial commemorating all those awarded our nation's highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual, the Medal of Honor.
You will hike with your dog along an attractive serpentine path that visits memorials to Medal of Honor winners from each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Each is represented by a one-acre plot highlighted by a seven foot-seven inch high fiberglass replica of the Washington Monument obelisk.
Attached to the obelisk is a state seal, dedication plaque and a list of Medal of Honor recipients accredited to that state.
To date, 25 states have replaced the standard white fiberglass obelisk with a distinctive granite or marble obelisk in their areas, all using stone native to their state.
The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and the Medal of Honor Grove can be reached from Valley Forge National Historic Park by continuing west on Route 23.