[3] A plaque near the fourth arch contains words spoken by Theodore Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dame, at the memorial's dedication, reading:[3] About 500 Notre Dame Alumni gave their lives for their country and for Peace in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

In memorializing them, we join our prayers to their supreme sacrifice as we inscribe this column: Pro Patria et Pace, For Country and Peace.

This is our Prayer, that all living Notre Dame Men and Women dedicate themselves to the service of their Country and World Peace.Due to the design of the memorial, it is often referred to as "Stonehenge".

[4] Since September 11, 2001, there has been a tradition with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Notre Dame where a 24-hour vigil is held under the fountain every Veterans Day.

[3] On November 15, 2015, during the 2015–2016 University of Missouri protests, an event was held at the fountain as a show of solidarity with the protestors there, with many of the attendees wearing all-black.