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North Escambia Memorials Honor Those That Served
May 28, 2012
People across North Escambia and the country paused Monday to remember the brave men and women that have served our country as we celebrated Memorial Day.
In North Escambia, there are several memorials that honor those that have served in the military:
Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor
The largest such memorial in the North Escambia area, the Veteran’s Honor Wall has stood in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center since its dedication in 2003. There are nearly 300 names on the wall, including names of just over a dozen soldiers killed in action. The wall honors those from the Walnut Hill area that have served in the nation’s military.
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club began planning the wall in late 2001, and they decided that it would be a community project at no cost to the veterans listed.
Billy R. Ward began to engrave the names with an antique machine the club purchased off the internet, and there were 220 names on the wall when it was dedicated in 2003. He spent a lot of time on the project, even visiting the Wall South Memorial in Pensacola to get an idea what size the letters on the plaques should be.
On the Walnut Hill Veteran’s Honor Wall, everyone is equal. It was decided that no service rank would be include on the name plaques, just the branch and years of service.
It is estimated that about one-fourth of the veterans listed on the wall are now deceased.
The Walnut Hill Veteran’s Wall is located in front of the community center at 7850 Highway 97.
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LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park
The LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park was dedicated in Bratt on November 8, 2011, in honor of the local Marine killed in action in August 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was just two weeks after his 19th birthday and only about a month after he arrived in Afghanistan.
The park features a memorial in Nelson’s honor. It is located on West Highway 4, just west of Northview High School.
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Atmore Veterans Memorial
The new Veterans Memorial in Atmore stands proudly on the lawn of the Atmore City Hall to pay tribute to those have served from around Atmore and North Escambia. Names of the fallen are on the spire, while commemorative bricks around the base of the spire name those that have served in the military past and present.
Those honored on the bricks date back to the Revolutionary War with a brick with the name of Benjamin Sasser, 1755-1840. His relative, Federick Sasser, 1794-1846, is also honored for his service in the War of 1812.
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Barrineau Park Wall of Honor
The Wall of Honor inside the Barrineau Park Community Center honors scores of area residents that have served in the military. The wall was a project of the Barrineau Park Historical Society. (Pictured above.)
Century Veterans Wall of Honor
About four dozen of those that served from the Century area are honored on the Century Veterans Wall of Honor at Century’s Roadside Park on Highway 29. The memorial was dedicated on July 4, 2008. (Pictured below.)
The Century Veterans Wall of Honor is located in the Nadine McCaw Park at the corner of North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) and Hecker Road.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
4 Responses to “North Escambia Memorials Honor Those That Served”
some 40 years ago i came home from vietnam, went to work , raised a family and went about with the rest of my life. other than my family expressing their pride in my service, that was it. i never thought twice about it. i went because i thought it was the right thing to do. recently i have had 3 young men, total strangers come up to me and thank me for my service. i was floored. i thanked them and felt a little of what these guys coming home now must feel. if you see a service member, thank them for their service. you have no idea how much it means.
Some gave a little, some gave all…but all were willing to give what ever it took.
Thank you to all the veterans who are brave enough to stand tall for our proud country. Without these brave vets, we would not be the greatest country in the world.
THANK YOU TO ALL SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN….. THANK YOU MR. BILLY WARD FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON OUR WALNUT HILL WALL….
Thank you to all our veterans who served our country! Thank you for all you have done to keep us free. Thank you to those serving our country now. This is your day and I wish you all the best with a hardy THANK YOU and BLESS YOU!