Every year in the USA, 11th November marks Veterans Day, an occasion where all those who have served in the US Armed Forces are celebrated and given the thanks they thoroughly deserve. Always a moving occasion, events are held all over the country to commemorate wars, battles and military involvement throughout the years.

Things will be particularly poignant at the various memorials and battlegrounds, places which are often found on the itinerary of an American Cruise Lines cruise. With that in mind, here are three such points of interest where you can mark Veterans Day 2019 during an East Coast Inland Passage or Mississippi River cruise.

Vicksburg National Military Park

Because of its strategic position and the fact that it was a central point for food, ammunition and military personal to reach the Confederacy, Vicksburg played a vital role during the American Civil War.Lincoln himself declared it to be the key to winning the entire war and, for 18 months, a campaign was waged by both sides to gain or keep control of the city.

Today, Vicksburg National Military Park tells the story of the 47-day siege carried out by Union forces. Stories are told from the point of view of specific individuals involved in the battle and over 1,400 memorials have been erected to honour the various groups of people who lost their lives here. The park is also home to The USS Cairo, one of the first US warships built for the Civil War and a vessel that played an integral role in the capture of Fort Pillow by the Union.

All of the history on display here will be brought to life by guides at the park on the day and on board your authentic paddle wheeler the night before you arrive in Vicksburg. The Civil War expert at the park will even tailor the tour to the interests of the group, focussing on things everyone wants to see.

USS Kidd

This Fletcher-class destroyer has been converted into a museum ship and is the only vessel of its kind to still be preserved as she was during WWII. Named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, who died at Pearl Harbour,she offers the chance to see the inner workings of a warship and feel what it would have been like to serve aboard her. Some of the areas you can discover include the captain’s state room, engine room and the torpedo tubes.

Attached is the Louisiana Veterans Museum, a memorial to all those who have lost their lives in military service and where artifacts relating to WWII can be found. The USS Kidd can be visited during an excursion from Baton Rouge and is offering free entry for all veterans on 11th November 2019.

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter is where the American Civil War began and can be reached via ferry from Charleston, an excursion offered during American Cruise Lines’ East Coast Inland Passage cruises. The experience starts on the journey across the Charleston Harbour to the tiny island where the fort is situated, thanks to alive commentary from park rangers describing what you can see around you. Then,you step out into the middle of history and begin to feel what the soldiers would have felt at the time.

As tensions continued to rise in the Confederate city of Charleston, the Union-occupied Fort Sumter became the focal point of their anger. On April 12th 1961, they opened fire on the garrison,starting four years of conflict that would see 600,000 people lose their lives.As you stand behind the fortified walls, you can look out to the other forts all around and imagine what it would have been like to see cannon balls and other projectiles raining down from all angles.

If you would like to learn more about American military history, this is a big part of what’s offered along the Mississippi. Call us on 0800 954 0064 to discuss our river cruise options or sign up to our mailing list to stay informed of all the latest news and offers.