Education: Veterans Heritage Learning Center | New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery Association

Veterans Heritage Learning Center & NHSVC Education Website

The Veterans Heritage Learning Center is the educational 'welcome' center for the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery. Inside are exhibits depicting New Hampshire's military heritage from the late 17th century to the present day. Our feature exhibits include:

A Congressional Medal of Honor Wall - featuring plates denoting each of the New Hampshire recipients of the Medal of Honor. There is also a reference binder with lithographs, photos, and citations for each of the MoH recipients.
Presentation Theatre to view the cemetery documentary, any video, or presentations connected wirelessly through a laptop for teachers & students.
Local Heroes - 14 standing kiosks that feature a synopsis and photo of men & women from New Hampshire who served our nation with distinction.
The "Stories of Service" kiosk is a touchscreen computer that allows you to view the service information and stories of our veterans with New Hampshire ties, even if they are not buried at the NH State Veterans Cemetery. In addition, this portal is available online, where veterans and their families can also submit a story from any device!
Historical Interactive Kiosks (WWI through current operations) that tell the story of New Hampshire's military and veterans with engaging photos, games, and quizzes to test your knowledge!

“The New Hampshire Veterans Heritage Learning Center offers a robust, creative, and interactive educational environment for students and the public to learn about the selfless service and sacrifice of our NH military veterans and their vital role in all aspects of our nation’s distinguished military history.”

The Veterans Heritage Learning Center, designed in 2015 and opened on November 11, 2018, honors our veterans by highlighting the military history of New Hampshire and the veterans who bravely served the country. The center has a range of exhibits that provide an immersive learning experience for visitors.

Once the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery opened, it quickly became a ‘living memorial,’ a place where family, friends, veteran groups, and students visited and learned about the generations of veterans buried there. It became clear that a facility to support education and awareness about our honored veterans and the crucial role they have played in securing our freedom was a missing piece at the cemetery. With input from all stakeholders, the concept and plans for the Veterans Heritage Learning Center were developed. The New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery Association initiated a $700,000 building campaign to complete the VHLC building and exhibits. Initially, funds supported the early planning and designing of the Center, including the development of a documentary film ("A Living Memorial"), an internal interactive and static exhibit plan, and construction of the 1200 square foot Learning Center core, attached to the back of the Administration building. NH Veterans Cemetery Association

Later, internal structures were built, including the NH Heroes Kiosks, a multi-media "Foot Locker theater" featuring hands-on exhibits and military items from various wars and services, and Interactive Learning Kiosks to complement the static “Journey of the NH Soldier” Modular Walls Exhibit

The VHLC is multi-functional, where the portable display walls and footlocker seating can be moved to accommodate various meeting needs, including a traditional classroom configuration. The VHLC has integrated educational learning objectives for teachers and students visiting the Cemetery & Learning Center. The State of New Hampshire owns the building in which the Veterans Heritage Learning Center resides.

The New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery Association is responsible for planning any improvements to infrastructure as well as supporting operations that benefit the Cemetery. Once a project is approved by the State, the NH Veterans Cemetery Association is responsible for raising funds from the private sector to support enhancements and programs. Veterans Heritage Learning Center is intended to have a ‘flexible schedule’ and have staff available to support the maintenance and development of operations, programs,

and group visits. Visitors to the Cemetery, including over 600 students annually, currently learn about and make personal connections with the over 10,700 NH veterans and family members buried on the grounds.

Programming and operations for the VHLC are supported through donations to the VHLC and an endowment fund to sustain operations. In 2023, the NHVCA hired a part-time VHLC administrator to help us attract and increase student and educational group visits to the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery each year. The Veterans Heritage Learning Center was officially opened to the public on November 11, 2018, to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of Veterans Day. Individuals, families, businesses, and foundations generously contributed to this campaign in a variety of ways, allowing us to exceed our fundraising goals.

About NHVCA

Support the maintenance of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery as a dignified, final resting place which honors all veterans and eligible dependents and reflects the State’s pride and gratitude for their service to the State and Nation.