Fort Indiantown Gap is located in Annville, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. It's an easy drive from Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, Gettysburg and Hanover. We live near Harrisburg and it takes us about 30 minutes to get there via Interstate 81 and traffic. As with all day trips...we plan ahead! We packed up a few snacks, bottled water, sunscreen and wore our walking shoes.
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Our day trip started off with a visit to
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery to visit my brother's grave and to pay our respects to the men and women buried there. You'll want to start off your visit at the administration office where you can obtain a little map to help guide you around the cemetery.
One thing you'll immediately notice is all of the American Flags that line both sides of the road. There are thousands of American Flags throughout the cemetery and its quite breathtaking to see. As you walk around you'll encounter several memorials and park benches that you can sit on. Its very peaceful and serene.
The most notable monument is the
Pennsylvania Veteran's Memorial which is the tallest structure there. Once you walk up the steps and inside it you'll see several meditation pools, water fountains, trees and benches. They host ceremonies and events at the memorial throughout the year. It's an "open-air" memorial which means there's nothing to protect you from the weather.
As you move throughout the cemetery you'll notice the beautiful landscaping. There are several different type's of graves with some highly noticeable and others you don't see (flush to the ground) until you're walking by them. They take great care of the property and its a humbling experience every time we visit.
The next stop was to
Funck's Family Restaurant to grab lunch. This was our first time dining there and it won't be our last. We were seated immediately upon arrival and handed our menus within minutes. They offer your classic American comfort foods like meatloaf, grilled chicken, roasted turkey, fish & seafood, wraps, hot & cold sandwiches, soups & salads, hamburgers, desserts, etc. Reminds me of a small town diner, but better!
Our meals arrived on our table within 30 minutes of placing our orders and everything was cooked to perfection. We were really impressed with the larger portions that we received and even better yet...how well everything tasted. The wait staff was attentive to our needs and the restaurant was extremely clean. We really enjoyed their family-friendly environment.
We headed down to Fisher Avenue so that we could see all of the military equipment and vehicles that they had on display. These outdoor exhibits are part of the
Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum and are FREE to visit. You'll find two small parking lots where you can park your vehicle and get out and walk.
The
Gratitude Merci Train Boxcar was the first exhibit that we checked out. We had never heard of the Merci Train, so it was really cool to learn about it. It's one of 49 boxcars sent to the United States from the citizens of France in 1949. The plaque located there will give you all kinds of fascinating information about it.
We continued walking down the designated area alongside the road to check out the other exhibits. We saw a few different howitzers, a military truck, several different type's of military tanks and helicopters. Next to each one you'll find a plaque that will give you specific information about it. It was really cool to see these things up close and personal. Your permitted to photograph them but you can't climb in or on them. Please be respectful.
You'll want to cross the street in the designated crosswalk to go see the large military plane that is on display. There's an information plaque for you to read but better yet...a listening station where you can push the buttons and hear the recorded information about the history of the plane. We spent a good 10-12 minutes reading and listening to the story before moving on.
Located nearby you'll see the
Pennsylvania National Guard Training Center and on the day that we were visiting we could see the National Guard Members outside working on their physical fitness. There's a park bench nearby, so we sat down for about 10 minutes just observing them. Those men and women work so hard and its important that we thank them for their service when we see them.
One thing that you'll notice when visiting Fort Indiantown Gap is that its a small town...only a couple of hundred people live there. It's a "small" military town and those that live there are patriotic and proud. Even though its a small town, it's jam-packed with history!
Not sure where you are or where you want to go? Stop in to the
Fort Indiantown Gap Post Locator to see an area map with marked-off attractions, area information, etc. Right up the street from this one was the Fire Station if you need additional information too. Everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful.
Right down the road (within a few miles) you'll find the entrance to
Memorial Lake State Park where you'll find picnic grounds, a lake that offers fishing and small boating, a playground for the kids, public restrooms, hiking and walking trails, etc. We had visited the park before but skipped it on this particular visit. You can check out our Memorial Lake State Park post to learn more about it.
We spent a total of 6 1/2 hours in Fort Indiantown Gap and really enjoyed our little day trip. The best part about our trip is that visiting the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and the Pennsylvania National Guard Museum are 100% free. If you decide to visit Memorial Lake State Park, that's free too! A great day trip for families who don't want to spend a lot of money and for those who enjoy learning about American and Pennsylvania military history.
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