Skydiving to Salute – Iwo Jima Marines

Path to Service

The Path to Service shares the diverse backgrounds and reasons of those who make the decision to become Marines.

The Path to Service begins at the East point of the property and leads to the Honor Plaza.  It demonstrates that the desire to serve can occur for many reasons and at various stages of life. It culminates entering the Honor Plaza, with the young person fulfilling their dream to become a Marine saluting the flag and those on duty saluting the flag & new Marine!

Dedication Eligibility: Bricks can be dedicated to all Marines with honorable service.

Purchasing a brick:

Family and friends have an opportunity to honor a Marine with the purchase of a brick in their honor.

Brick purchases are donations and are non-refundable. Brick purchases are tax-deductible.

Bricks can be purchased by credit card or by check. Use the form on this page to purchase by credit card. If you prefer to pay by check, use the links below to select a 4×8 or 8×8 brick.

Remember, your brick will honor the military service of your loved one, family member, or friend for many years when properly engraved. It will long remain a token of our respect for their sacrifices.

The bricks that pave the Path to Service reflect honorable service for Marines, living or deceased, and for those currently in active-duty status.

To purchase brick by check:

Bricks can be purchased by credit card or by check. Use the form on this page to purchase by credit card. If you prefer to pay by check, use the links below to select a 4×8 or 8×8 brick.

4×8 inch brick ($200, three lines of text) (link to form)

8×8 inch brick ($400, six lines of text) (link to form)

Brick purchase guidelines:

  1. Ensure that submissions are accurate! The USMC Memorial Foundation will not be responsible for spelling mistakes or verifying that submissions are correct. Submissions are considered final.
  2. Brick orders must be placed individually.
  3. Brick purchases are donations and are non-refundable.

Path of Service bricks:

4x8 inch brick ( $200, 3 lines of text, 20 characters per line)

8x8 inch brick ( $400, 6 lines of text, 20 characters per line)

Purchase a brick on the Walk of Service:

Purchase bricks for other Walkways:

Path of Service online brick order form:

Donate a brick and support the USMC Memorial remodel

Founded in 1974, completed and dedicated in 1977, the United States Marine Corps Memorial is located in Golden, Colorado. The Memorial’s mission is to honor Marines and all who served.

The five walkways represent different aspects of acknowledging service for Marines and the other branches. Four of the walkways are reserved for Marines, the remaining walkway is dedicated to other service members. Veterans (with honorable service) and active duty service members qualify to donate a brick commemorating their service.

Select an individual walkway to purchase a brick or to learn more.

Play Video

The Walk of Service

The Walk of Service honors service members from all branches past and present.

The Walk of Valor

The Walk of Valor acknowledges Marines who received 1 of the top five medals of valor.

The Path to Service


The Path to Service honors the reasons of those who choose to become Marines.

The Walk Home

The Walk Home tells the story of Marines returning home after serving.

The Reflection Walk


The Reflection Walk honors Marines who earned the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.

Marine Stories

The United States Marine Corps Memorial is more than a place of Honor; more than a place of history; more than a place of healing;  it’s a place for YOUR story.  Your story is similar in many ways to others who can’t tell their story because they’re no longer with us or can’t because it’s too difficult or they’re physically unable.  Each of you who are Marines or who served with Marines has a story and it’s important to record that story so others will know they’re freedom wasn’t free, and what each of us gave of ourselves for the love of this country.  Our aim is to share what it is to be a Marine or to have served with Marines as a way to educate the public, especially our youth.  Watch for more stories here as time goes by.

The stories of Marines you will find on this page are just some of the stories we know are out there.

We’d love for you to send your story along with photos to be posted on this site.  It will be used as an educational tool for Young Marine detachments and Scouts to learn about what it means to be a Marine.  Send stories to info@usmcmemorialfoundation.org.

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