North Escambia Memorials Honor Those That Served

May 29, 2017

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 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

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

  1. Hilda Malone on May 29th, 2017 5:57 pm

    Thanks to everyone that had a part in all the memorials we all need to thank God for these people who loved this country enough to fight for it. I personally thank them and their families. With Love , God Bless The USA

  2. Bonnie Exner on May 29th, 2017 4:35 pm

    We are so proud of BPHS WALL OF HONOR which pays tribute to BARRINEAU PARK AND MOLINO MEN AND WOMEN WHO DEFEND who have faithfully served in the UNITED STATES MILITARY. NANCY FILLINGIM, BPHS MUSEUM CURATOR, was the guiding force behind this project and deserves many thanks for seeing this patriotic labor of love come to fruition.

  3. Bill on May 29th, 2017 8:57 am

    Thank you Mr Ward for your tireless efforts and commitment to the Walnut Hill Community center project. All those so honored are thankful.