Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation Salutes Legendary General with Heritage Walk

The Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation is offering businesses and individuals an opportunity to be a part of history with the planned erection of a Heritage Walk at The MacArthur Memorial.

Located in Norfolk, Va., the Heritage Walk is intended to honor the legacy and extraordinary achievements of legendary Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and particularly as they relate to his credo, “duty, honor, country.” The Heritage Walk will be located between the museum and a planned visitor’s center, which will open in October.

The Heritage Walk honors the legacy and achievements of legendary Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Marine Col. William Davis (retired) tells Newsmax that the project offers all Americans an opportunity to receive “permanent recognition” for their military service, the service of others, or simply to be associated with the accomplishments of such an important historical figure and patriot.

“You’re looking at probably one of the more unique and extraordinary soldiers and figures in American history that served a period of 52 years that really cover the major events of the 20th century in which the United States participated . . . through the 1950s with the Korean War,” explained Davis, who serves as executive director of the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation and director of The MacArthur Memorial.

The organization is seeking $250 or $500 tax-deductible contributions based on two available sizes of commemorative brick. Both will be engraved and positioned “in a place of honor and remembrance visible to all who visit the MacArthur Memorial.”

The foundation has commemorated the legendary general’s service since 1962. The site includes a museum, research center and archives in addition to the new visitor’s center and Heritage Walk, which will be dedicated on October 12-14. The general and his wife are interred in the rotunda of the memorial.

“As the MacArthur Memorial now expands its mission of historical preservation and education, the public is invited to play a lasting and vital role in its construction through the purchase of memorial bricks,” according to the foundation.

Davis said that about 10 percent of the planned 1,100 bricks in the Heritage Walk had already been reserved as of mid-August, but that the walk could be expanded if necessary.

In addition to MacArthur’s famous “duty, honor, country” credo which is also the West Point motto, the general is remembered for his promise to the Filipino people during World War II that “I shall return,” and his “Old soldiers never die,” quotation from a 1951 speech before a joint session of Congress.

For the millions of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen who have taken up arms, he will undoubtedly best be remembered for those inspirational words he uttered in a 1962 speech at West Point that is now referred to simply as the “duty, honor, country” speech.

“He talked about those things that young men — and now young women who are at West Point — but it really could transcend to all services, all nations and says ‘here are the things that you should try to do if you are going to enter in the profession of arms, and if you are going to be entrusted with the lives of young men and women serving with and for you,’” Davis added.

For more information contact Col. William Davis at William.Davis@norfolk.gov or Joe Lalley at 757.441.2965.