World War II Heritage City (officially American World War II Heritage City) is an honorary designation applied by National Park Service of the United States government to an American city or region in recognition of its contributions to the war effort of World War II and its continuing work to preserve its military history.
History
The idea for the World War II Heritage City program was originated by Wilbur D. Jones Jr., a retired United States Navy captain and military historian, in about 2008. The designation was made law in an act sponsored by Senator Thom Tillis and Representative David Rouzer, and signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2019 as Public Law 116–9.
In September 2020, Wilmington, North Carolina, was designated the first World War II Heritage City.
Criteria Any city credited with a major contribution to the American war effort during World War II and which, since the end of hostilities, has actively endeavored to preserve its military legacy can be designated a World War II Heritage City. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to designate cities. No more than one such city in any single state or territory can be named. Other jurisdictions, such as counties, towns, or townships are eligible.
List of Heritage Cities Foley, Alabama Tempe, Arizona Richmond, California East Hartford, Connecticut Wilmington, Delaware Pensacola and Escambia County, Florida, Florida Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia Evansville, Indiana Waterloo, Iowa Wichita, Kansas New Orleans, Louisiana Baltimore County, Maryland Springfield, Massachusettshttps://www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/news-story?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=16042&cHash=df98fa6c04cdd81241285cd99218c863 Pascagoula, Mississippi Johnson County and Warrensburg, Missouri Lewistown, Montana Hastings, Nebraska Boulder City and Henderson, Nevada Paterson, New Jersey Los Alamos County, New Mexico Yonkers, New York Wilmington, North Carolina Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Oak Ridge, Tennessee South Texas Bend area and Corpus Christi, Texas Bedford County, Virginia Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland), Washington Manitowoc, Wisconsin Casper and Natrona County, Wyoming Calhoun and Ouachita Counties, Arkansas Plymouth Township, Michigan Valley City, North Dakota Municipality of Tinian & Aguiguan, Northern Mariana Islands Ponca City and Kay County, Oklahoma North Kingstown, Rhode Island Sumter City and Sumter County, South Carolina Ogden, Utah
See also Hero City (Soviet Union)
References