East Mississippi Veterans Memorial
Donazione protetta
East Mississippi Veterans Memorial Park will provide a tranquil spot to pay a lasting tribute to honor and recognize the men and women of Meridian and East Mississippi who have served in the U. S. Armed Forces. The park will also recognize the historical contributions to aviation and East Mississippi of Al and Fred Key and tell the history of Meridians’ Key Field.
This Memorial park will honor, educate and inspire with four distinct areas -
Static Aircraft Display – Static aircraft display of a former 186th Meridian Air Guard RF-4C Phantom II aircraft – 67-0438. This iconic aircraft will honor the many men and women of the 186th Meridian Air Guard and area veterans who served in the Cold War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm. A plaque commemorating the history of the F-4 Phantom and its service with the Mississippi Air National Guard will be placed adjacent to the aircraft. As a special honor, on either side of the aircraft, under the canopies’, will be the names of four crew members of the RF-4 Phantom who lost their lives while serving in the 186th TRG/153TRS, Meridian Air Guard. A monument in their honor will also be placed adjacent the Static Aircraft Display.
Armed Forces Plaza – This will be a pentagon shaped plaza with a sculpture of the American Bald Eagle, which symbolizes the strength, independence and freedom of America displayed in the center. On the five points of the pentagon will be monuments with emblems for each branch of the service along with a brief history. Each service flag will be flying adjacent to its monument.
Freedom Walkway – An expanded walkway though 12 pillars that highlight major conflicts in American history from the American Revolution to the current day War on Terror. Each pillar will give a brief history of that conflict and the reverse side will reveal the total number of casualties – truly illustrating that “Freedom is Not Free”.
Wall of Remembrance – A monument wall honoring past and present day veterans. The center wall will be engraved with names honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. On either side of the center wall will be areas to honor past and present veterans that have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. There will be multiple granite benches in front of the Wall of Remembrance to provide visitors a spot to sit and reflect. The American, State of Mississippi and POW/MIA flags will be displayed in front of the Wall of Remembrance. Adjacent to the wall would be the “Fallen Soldier Battle Cross” showing honor and respect for the dead among the still living members of the troop.
Tiles will be offered for purchase to honor loved ones and placed on the Wall of Remembrance. More details on this will be forthcoming.
Along with the Memorial to our Veterans, Key Brothers Pavilion would commemorate Meridian’s Al and Fred Key - brothers who set a world endurance flight record in 1935, bringing world renown to Meridian and Mississippi at a time when air travel was still exotic. The exhibit would contain panels that document their accomplishments, the history of Key Field, Meridian Regional Airport, and Meridian Mississippi Air National Guard unit. This small pavilion would be replicated after the current historical hanger located on Key Field. A monument adjacent to the pavilion would recognizing the Key Brothers monumental event.
Site of Memorial Park - The Meridian Airport Authority has graciously offered an approximately two-and one-half acre site between the old M Street and the new M street just off Highway 11 South, adjacent to the east side of the Air National Guard base for the establishment of this lasting Memorial. Mr. Tom Williams, Airport Authority Manager is awaiting final approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Memorial Park to be placed on this property.
Purposed Budget for Park -Projected at $200,000.00 with land/site at no cost (donated) $75,000 for aircraft movement/restoration and $125,000 for Memorial Park and Key Brothers Pavilion.
Why we need your help -This lasting tribute will only become a reality through donations and in kind services. We are asking citizens, civic organizations and area businesses of Meridian, Lauderdale County and East Mississippi to help - take ownership and donate funds to build this world-class, second to none prestigious place of honor. It needs the help of the entire community. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community as a whole, to unite and make a commitment to express its gratitude to our area veterans. Become a partner with Meridian's VFW Post 12124 and make a lasting investment that will be enjoyed by future generations. Your donations will be tax-deductible.
Please donate to honor all Veterans of Meridian and East Mississippi! Our goal is to have the dedication on Memorial Day 2019.
This Memorial park will honor, educate and inspire with four distinct areas -
Static Aircraft Display – Static aircraft display of a former 186th Meridian Air Guard RF-4C Phantom II aircraft – 67-0438. This iconic aircraft will honor the many men and women of the 186th Meridian Air Guard and area veterans who served in the Cold War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm. A plaque commemorating the history of the F-4 Phantom and its service with the Mississippi Air National Guard will be placed adjacent to the aircraft. As a special honor, on either side of the aircraft, under the canopies’, will be the names of four crew members of the RF-4 Phantom who lost their lives while serving in the 186th TRG/153TRS, Meridian Air Guard. A monument in their honor will also be placed adjacent the Static Aircraft Display.
Armed Forces Plaza – This will be a pentagon shaped plaza with a sculpture of the American Bald Eagle, which symbolizes the strength, independence and freedom of America displayed in the center. On the five points of the pentagon will be monuments with emblems for each branch of the service along with a brief history. Each service flag will be flying adjacent to its monument.
Freedom Walkway – An expanded walkway though 12 pillars that highlight major conflicts in American history from the American Revolution to the current day War on Terror. Each pillar will give a brief history of that conflict and the reverse side will reveal the total number of casualties – truly illustrating that “Freedom is Not Free”.
Wall of Remembrance – A monument wall honoring past and present day veterans. The center wall will be engraved with names honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. On either side of the center wall will be areas to honor past and present veterans that have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. There will be multiple granite benches in front of the Wall of Remembrance to provide visitors a spot to sit and reflect. The American, State of Mississippi and POW/MIA flags will be displayed in front of the Wall of Remembrance. Adjacent to the wall would be the “Fallen Soldier Battle Cross” showing honor and respect for the dead among the still living members of the troop.
Tiles will be offered for purchase to honor loved ones and placed on the Wall of Remembrance. More details on this will be forthcoming.
Along with the Memorial to our Veterans, Key Brothers Pavilion would commemorate Meridian’s Al and Fred Key - brothers who set a world endurance flight record in 1935, bringing world renown to Meridian and Mississippi at a time when air travel was still exotic. The exhibit would contain panels that document their accomplishments, the history of Key Field, Meridian Regional Airport, and Meridian Mississippi Air National Guard unit. This small pavilion would be replicated after the current historical hanger located on Key Field. A monument adjacent to the pavilion would recognizing the Key Brothers monumental event.
Site of Memorial Park - The Meridian Airport Authority has graciously offered an approximately two-and one-half acre site between the old M Street and the new M street just off Highway 11 South, adjacent to the east side of the Air National Guard base for the establishment of this lasting Memorial. Mr. Tom Williams, Airport Authority Manager is awaiting final approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Memorial Park to be placed on this property.
Purposed Budget for Park -Projected at $200,000.00 with land/site at no cost (donated) $75,000 for aircraft movement/restoration and $125,000 for Memorial Park and Key Brothers Pavilion.
Why we need your help -This lasting tribute will only become a reality through donations and in kind services. We are asking citizens, civic organizations and area businesses of Meridian, Lauderdale County and East Mississippi to help - take ownership and donate funds to build this world-class, second to none prestigious place of honor. It needs the help of the entire community. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community as a whole, to unite and make a commitment to express its gratitude to our area veterans. Become a partner with Meridian's VFW Post 12124 and make a lasting investment that will be enjoyed by future generations. Your donations will be tax-deductible.
Please donate to honor all Veterans of Meridian and East Mississippi! Our goal is to have the dedication on Memorial Day 2019.
Organizzatore
Jeffrey G. Summerlin
Organizzatore
Meridian, MS