The Ranger Memorial is a tribute to the
United States Army Rangers
The United States Army Rangers are U.S. Army personnel who have served in any unit which has held the official designation of "Ranger". The term is commonly used to include graduates of the Ranger School, even if they have never served in a ...
at
Fort Benning
Fort Benning (named Fort Moore from 2023–2025) is a United States Army post in the Columbus, Georgia area. Located on Georgia's border with Alabama, Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve compone ...
), 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 Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) is an 8-week course held at Fort Benning, Georgia, for the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment. In 2009, RASP replaced both the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) for enlisted Soldiers and Ranger Ori ...
.
The original idea of the Ranger Memorial was drawn on a sketch by two
Rangers
A ranger is typically someone in a law enforcement or military/paramilitary role specializing in patrolling a given territory, called "ranging" or "scouting". The term most often refers to:
* Park ranger or forest ranger, a person charged with prot ...
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
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and its allies throughout their long history. The construction was completed in 1994 with approximately 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.
The memorial is composed of a large
Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife
The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger or poignard with a brass or wooden foil grip. It was developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on ideas that the two ...
sitting between two large marble pillars as the centerpiece. This knife was issued to
British Commandos
The Commandos, also known as the British Commandos, were formed during the World War II, Second World War in June 1940, following a request from Winston Churchill, for special forces that could carry out Raid (military), raids against German-occ ...
and subsequently to the men of the newly formed
1st Ranger Battalion
The 1st Ranger Battalion, currently based at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, United States, is the first of three ranger battalions belonging to the United States Army's 75th Ranger Regiment (United States), 75th Ranger Regiment.
It ...
while they were training with them in
Achnacarry
Achnacarry () is a hamlet, private estate (land), estate, and a castle in the Lochaber region of the Scottish Highlands, Highlands, Scotland. It occupies a strategic position on an isthmus between Loch Lochy to the east, and Loch Arkaig to the w ...
,
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
. This knife later became a staple of the inventory of airborne troops as well as other special operations units during
WWII
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
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.
References
External links
National Ranger FoundationOfficial information site of the Ranger Memorial at Fort Moore
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Military monuments and memorials in the United States
United States Army Rangers