Ranger Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Ranger Memorial is a tribute to the United States Army Rangers
at Fort Benning, Georgia. The memorial serves as host to Ranger ceremonies such as Ranger retirement ceremonies to the graduation of the latest Rangers from the Ranger Indoctrination Program
.
The original idea of the Ranger Memorial was drawn on a sketch by two Rangers
in a mess hall. The idea was to form a permanent memorial to the contributions that Rangers have made to the defense of the United States
and its allies throughout their long history. The construction was completed in 1994 with 2,456 polished stones commemorating soldiers. In 1996, Phase II and 2,200 more memorial stones along with indirect lighting, sprinkler system, ledger stones, and a locater system for helping to find the Rangers on the walk.
This memorial is unique as its approval had to be met not only by the Ranger Memorial Foundation that started action, but also Fort Benning
, TRADOC
, and the Department of the Army
.
The memorial is composed of a large Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife
sitting between two large marble pillars as the centerpiece. This knife was issued to British Commandos
and subsequently to the men of the newly formed 1st Ranger Battalion while they were training with them in Achnacarry
, Scotland
. This knife later became a staple of the inventory of airborne troops as well as other special operations units during WWII
.
Another unique part of this monument is the walkway to the centerpiece. It is composed of “purchased” stones by former and current Rangers with their unit information. No rank is indicated on the stones of the soldiers, only the word “Ranger” as the first line.
The criteria for stone purchase are very strict and not every person can be on the “Ranger Walk”. Anyone can buy a stone on the monument, but the stone has to be for a qualified Ranger.
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
at Fort Benning, Georgia. The memorial serves as host to Ranger ceremonies such as Ranger retirement ceremonies to the graduation of the latest Rangers from the Ranger Indoctrination Program
Ranger Indoctrination Program
Ranger Assessment and Selection Program is an 8 week course held at Fort Benning, Georgia. RASP is required for all ranks. As of 2010, RASP replaced both the RIP for enlisted Soldiers and ROP for Officers, both commissioned and non-commissioned. and below to be assigned to the U.S...
.
The original idea of the Ranger Memorial was drawn on a sketch by two Rangers
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
in a mess hall. The idea was to form a permanent memorial to the contributions that Rangers have made to the defense of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and its allies throughout their long history. The construction was completed in 1994 with 2,456 polished stones commemorating soldiers. In 1996, Phase II and 2,200 more memorial stones along with indirect lighting, sprinkler system, ledger stones, and a locater system for helping to find the Rangers on the walk.
This memorial is unique as its approval had to be met not only by the Ranger Memorial Foundation that started action, but also Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, TRADOC
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
Established 1 July 1973, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command is an army command of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is charged with overseeing training of Army forces, the development of operational doctrine, and the development and procurement of...
, and the Department of the Army
United States Department of the Army
The Department of the Army is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency which the United States Army is organized within, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has...
.
The memorial is composed of a large Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife
Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife
The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger or poignard with a foil grip developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal...
sitting between two large marble pillars as the centerpiece. This knife was issued to British Commandos
British Commandos
The British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe...
and subsequently to the men of the newly formed 1st Ranger Battalion while they were training with them in Achnacarry
Achnacarry
Achnacarry is a small hamlet, private estate, and a castle in the Lochaber region of Highland, Scotland. It occupies a strategic position on an isthmus between Loch Lochy to the east, and Loch Arkaig to the west....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. This knife later became a staple of the inventory of airborne troops as well as other special operations units during WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The criteria for stone purchase are very strict and not every person can be on the “Ranger Walk”. Anyone can buy a stone on the monument, but the stone has to be for a qualified Ranger.