One Year Later: Remembering LCpl Travis Nelson
August 18, 2012
Saturday marked the one year anniversary of the death of local Marine LCpl. Travis M. Nelson. LCpl. Nelson gave all on the battlefields of Afghanistan on August 18, 2011.
A world was shattered at the Nelson home in Bratt as three men in military uniforms stood at the door. “I just screamed and said no,” Beckie Nelson of Bratt said shortly after she learned that her son, LCpl Travis Nelson, was shot and killed while conducting combat operations in in Helmand province, Afghanistan. “I just went to my knees and said don’t let them come in. I knew right away that he was gone.”
It was a tragedy that began a wave an emotions and events that touched the entire North Escambia area and a nation. The community grieved as hundreds if not thousands changed their Facebook profile pictures to a single image in honor of Nelson. Tears flowed as powerful photos were published that showed an honor guard removing Nelson’s flag-draped coffin from a plane at Dover AFB in Delaware.
For a video retrospect, click here.
The rain poured down at Pensacola Naval Air Station a few days later as the final leg of Nelson’s journey home began. The rain did not send them running; they stood silently — many holding American flags — as the hearse carrying an American hero departed on a 55-mile journey to Atmore. Along the way, some of Pensacola’s busiest roadways came to a complete standstill as the motorcade passed. Many motorists stood outside their vehicles and paid their respects. In Walnut Hill, just a few miles from Nelson’s boyhood home in Bratt, the motorcade slowed as it approached Ernest Ward Middle School. Nelson was Golden Eagle, attending Ernest Ward in the sixth and seventh grades.
Hundreds of Ernest Ward Middle School students and teachers dressed in red, white and blue lined Highway 97, American flags in hand, waiting for the arrival of the motorcade.
As the procession passed, the students stood with their hands over their hearts, waving Old Glory. The thunder of 127 Patriot Guard motorcycle riders vibrated the ground and echoed across the country fields near the school.
Six Florida Highway Patrol trooper vehicles led the hearse past the school. Many students broke down in tears at the sight of a flag draped coffin. Others cried as they made eye contact with Nelson’s parents and their daughter — a sixth grader at Ernest Ward.
The motorcade continued into Atmore, where crowds stood along the route, waving Old Glory. At a local bank on Highway 31, people stood with large flags as the Northview High School NJTROC stood steadfast at attention. Across the way at the iconic Atmore train station, a group of local veterans stood proudly and saluted as Nelson’s remains passed.
Nelson’s funeral was held in Atmore where, again, hundreds paid their final respects.
Nelson was not forgotten. His name was added to the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor and other area memorials. A scholarship was announced. The Bratt Community Park was renamed the LCpl. Travis M. Nelson Park. Nelson’s family was honored at the annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Madeline Cates was to marry LCpl Travis Nelson when he returned from service with the Marines in Afghanistan. She had picked out her dress just before he lost his life serving his country half a world away in August.
“It wasn’t suppose to happen,” Madeline Cates, then 21, said about the death her soulmate. “He was the love of my life.”
Travis Nelson’s parents, Scott and Beckie Nelson, just could not stand the thought of their first Christmas without their son. To take their minds off a Christmas without Travis in the house, they decided to give back to the communities that had supported them so much following his death.
The Nelson family, along with a small army of volunteers, prepared and delivered about 125 Christmas meals Sunday for elderly, shut-in and needy people in the Bratt, Atmore and surrounding areas.
“He really was our hero,” Scott Nelson said.
LCpl Travis Nelson left behind a short, simple note just in case he did return from the battlefield in Afghanistan.
“Dear friends and family, if you are reading this, I didn’t get to come home. I love each and every one of you. I have no regrets, I died for a meaningful cause.”
For a video retrospect, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Car Rider Line Improved At Bratt Elementary School
August 17, 2012
Parents dropping off or picking up their students at Bratt Elementary will notice big improvements this year. The car rider line area was resurfaced and extended toward the back of the school to allow more vehicles into the line and off North Highway 99.
School begins Monday in Escambia County.
Pictured: The new car rider line are at Bratt Elementary. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Allen Memorial UMC Volunteers, Donates Supplies At Jim Allen Elementary
August 12, 2012
Members of Allen Memorial Methodist Church volunteered at Jim Allen Elementary School on Saturday.
They put together first day of school information packets as well as separated and collated kindergarten mathematics workbooks. Allen Memorial Church also donated several backpacks and $322.00 to be used for school supplies.
“Jim Allen Elementary School is very thankful to their partner in education, Allen Memorial Methodist Church,” said Rachel Watts, Jim Allen principal.
Registration Event Scheduled For Danceworks Classes
August 12, 2012
Registration is underway for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, and a registration event will be held Monday in Byrneville.
The registration will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday at the Byrneville Community Center. Or students can register by mail; click here for a form.
Ballet, tap and jazz classes will be taught by Heather Leonard beginning the week of August 20 for girls ages 3 and up, including a class for teens. Leonard has taught dance to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas. She is also the coach for the Northview High School Dance Team.
For a printable information sheet, schedule and registration form, click here. For further information, contact Heather Leonard at (850) 529-1358 or email hldanceworks@gmail.com.
Pictured: “A Dancing Circus”, the 2012 spring recital from the students of Heather Leonard’s Danceworks. NorthEscambia.comp file photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Atmore Market In The Park
August 12, 2012
The third “Market in the Park” of 2012 was held Saturday in downtown Atmore. The community market, sponsored by the Atmore Chamber of Commerce, featured an assortment of fresh and prepared food items along with arts and crafts. It was the final market event of the year.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Brewton Fire Dept. Offers Pink Firefighter Shirts
August 12, 2012
Members of the Brewton (Ala.) Fire Department will be wearing pink shirts during October for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Due to numerous requests last year, the shirts will be available to the public this year. The shirts are $20 each with proceeds donated to the Yancey Jernigan Foundation.
To order a shirt, call the Brewton Fire Department at (251) 867-7165 before August 31.
The Yancey Jernigan Foundation provides financial and emotional support to families fighting cancer in the Escambia County (Ala.) area. The foundations also strives to educate the public and provide resources to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Volunteers Aid Equine Group
August 12, 2012
For the second time this year, a group of sailors from NAS Pensacola volunteered Saturday to help a Cantonment non-profit clean up their facility. Over two dozen men and women helped mend fences and spruce up for Panhandle Equine Rescue — a non-profit group that helps abused and neglected horses.
In addition,18 PER volunteers helped out, donated food and donated the use of tools and other needed items.
Pictured: A group of volunteers worked Saturday at Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Montgomery, Smith To Wed
August 12, 2012
Rosa and Cecil Montgomery are proud to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Kiri Lynne Montgomery, to Thomas Dakota Smith, son of Sandy and James Smith of Flomaton.
Kiri is a 2011 graduate of Northview High School. She is currently attending Pensacola State College working toward her general AA degree, followed by a pharmacy technician degree. Kiri is currently employed at Subway in Flomaton.
Thomas is a 2011 graduate of Flomaton High School. He is currently employed with Wal-mart as a receiving associate. He plans to obtain his CDL license and become a truck driver in the near future.
The wedding is planned for 3 p.m., August 24, 2012, at the Byrneville Community Center.
Farm Family Of The Year Named During County Farm Tour
August 11, 2012
Over 225 local officials and area citizens took part in the 46th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour.
On the day-long bus tour, they learned first-hand about agriculture and its importance to the local economy. Stops on the tour included Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farm, Shannon Flinn Farm, a “Visit with Beekeeper’s”, Chumuckla’s Farmers Opry, UF/IFAS WFREC Jay Research Farm and Holland Farms.
The Shannon Flinn family was named the “Outstanding Farm Family of the Year”.
Shannon and his wife Audra, along with daughter Megan and sons Sheldon and Aaron, farm 500 acres of corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans. Officials said they are leaders in area production of food and fiber and are actively involved in various agricultural organizations. In addition to the Flinn family, tour organizers presented a plaque to retired Extension Agent Dan Mullins honoring him for his many years of dedicated service to the agricultural community.
Pictured top: Santa Rosa Commissioner Don Salter (left) with the Shannon Flinn family, the “Outstanding Farm Family of the Year”. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dump Your Kids At Dump Camp
August 11, 2012
If you are looking for something for your kids to do next week, you can send them to camp at the county’s landfill.
The Escambia County Department of Solid Waste invites kids to participate in “Dump your Kids at the Perdido Landfill for a Day!” camp on Wednesday, August 15 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. This one-day excursion to the Perdido Landfill allows kids, ages 6-12, to participate in fun-filled activities designed to teach the importance of the reduction of generated waste through source reduction, recycling, reuse or composting.
Activities include a tour of the Perdido Landfill, recycling education, household chemical waste education, hands-on recycling projects, arts and crafts with recycled materials, games that focus on recycling and reuse as well as an eco-walk on the Perdido Riverwalk Nature Trail.
The cost of the camp is the donation of one pair of new or gently used shoes to be donated to Soles4Souls. Campers will need to bring clothes that are appropriate to play in and be worn outside, a brown bag lunch, snacks, a reusable water bottle and drinks. (A zero waste lunch packed in reusable containers is encouraged by organizers.) One snack will be provided at the beginning of the day.
For more information or to preregister contact Recycling Operations at (850) 937-2160. Space is limited. The camp is sponsored by Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management Waste Services.