North Escambia Memorials Honor Those That Served

May 30, 2016

People across North Escambia and the country will pause today to remember the brave men and women that have served our country as we celebrate 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 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.

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NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “North Escambia Memorials Honor Those That Served”

  1. 429SCJ on June 1st, 2016 5:59 am

    The greatest respect our nation’s leaders could pay to these brave men and women is to refrain from going to war, against the same enemies over and over again.

    When the American Military leaves a theater of action, there should be no possibility of having to return in the foreseeable future.

    Total Victory or Total Defeat. Total War!

  2. david lamb on May 30th, 2016 9:16 pm

    They paid the ultimate sacrifice, Tate Aggies,1966 and 1965. FRED SHEFFIELD, KENNY HATCH AND JEFF HUGHES, As a Veteran I remember them often.

  3. Wharf Rat on May 30th, 2016 7:00 pm

    Not a trite comment, but a sincere thought…..” all gave some, and some gave all.” I think all of us can put faces on those names, whether friends in school, or, members of our various units in our military careers. Lord bless them all.

  4. Todd on May 30th, 2016 3:16 pm

    We need one in Cantonment area!

  5. DJC on May 30th, 2016 9:14 am

    Thanks veterans! We appreciate your service.

  6. Sage 2 on May 30th, 2016 9:12 am

    God bless them, their families and friends.

    Thanks to NE for the respect shown.

  7. David on May 30th, 2016 7:29 am

    Today is a hard day for me that I miss my friends who did not get to come home
    Prayers to all

  8. c.w. on May 30th, 2016 3:43 am

    To all that served, THANK YOU for your service.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News