This week, Massachusetts launched the Massachusetts Veterans Legacy Trail, a project to connect residents and visitors with the state’s military history, landmarks, and heritage.
The Massachusetts Veterans Legacy Trail is a first-of-its-kind project cataloging more than 1,200 war memorials across Massachusetts.
Developed as a signature initiative of the Massachusetts 250th Anniversary commemoration, the trail honors the service and sacrifice of veterans and military service from the Revolutionary War to the present day.
“Massachusetts has always been at the heart of America’s story,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “With the Veterans Legacy Trail, we’re connecting Massachusetts residents and visitors alike with the sacrifices of generations who served, and ensuring their legacy is part of how we commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary.”
The new initiative features both an interactive website and a companion brochure designed to help residents and visitors explore Massachusetts’ military history in engaging and accessible ways.
The Veterans Legacy Trail website offers a searchable map of more than 1,200 memorials in towns and cities statewide. Each entry includes location information, photographs and historical context. Users can search by region, war era, or community to uncover local stories of service and sacrifice.
The Veterans Legacy Trail brochure complements the digital platform by featuring the top 10 memorials in each of the Commonwealth’s six regions. Modeled after the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail, the brochure provides an easy-to-use, family-friendly guide encouraging residents and visitors to explore landmarks that define Massachusetts’ military history.
“Our veterans’ history is Massachusetts history,” said Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago. “This project is about honoring those who came before us, while making it easier for families, schools and communities to explore and engage with their legacy. We’re proud to partner with MA250 [Massachusetts 250th Anniversary Commission] and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to bring this vision to life.”
The project was formally launched at Battleship Cove in Fall River with Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Santiago, and partners from the Massachusetts legislature, Office of Travel and Tourism, and the Massachusetts 250th Anniversary Commission.
“The Veterans Legacy Trail makes history tangible,” said Driscoll. “Whether it’s a neighborhood monument like Bunker Hill in Charlestown or a landmark like Battleship Cove, these sites tell stories that belong to all of us — and they help us teach future generations the meaning of service and sacrifice.”