One of the things that makes Branson such a unique and special place is its spirit and heart for honoring America’s Veterans, active duty Armed Forces personnel and their families (Veterans),” said Annette Wood, the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Branson Tourism Center. “Branson Veteran’s Home Coming Week, running from Nov. 5 to 11 every year is America’s biggest Veterans Day celebration and the biggest public expressions of that spirit, but it is the many small ways that Veterans are honored in Branson every day that is the heartbeat of that spirit. ‘Patriot’s Corner in historic downtown Branson is one of those heartbeats,” she added.
Patriot’s Corners, although not formally named as such, is located at the intersection of Main and Commercial Streets in the heart of the historic downtown business district. It is  composed of five “Sidewalk Memorial Blocks.” Each has a 33 inch square block of granite with the colored emblem of one of America’s five Armed Forces, the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force  and Coast Guard inlaid in it. There is one Memorial on each of three corners and two on the the southwest corner.
Patriot’s Corners was a project conceived by the merchants of historic downtown Branson and financed privately through donations from them and others under an agreement and in cooperation with the city of Branson. Under that agreement the city has ownership of the memorials and maintains them.
Most of the millions who visit Branson each year don’t even know about “Patriot’s Corners,” but each day, during the Branson season, thousands pass by and over this perpetual memorial to America’s Armed Forces and her Veterans as they walk up and down the streets of downtown Branson. Some notice and some don’t, but that’s all right because “Patriot’s Corners” speaks volumes about the humble and sincere way that Branson honors America’s Veterans. It’s interesting to watch people as they discover the emblems. Some take pictures of them and others just stop for a few seconds, but to all who notice them they are a reminder of those who have and are sacrificing so much for the freedoms we enjoy.
