EAST MISSISSIPPI VETERANS FOUNDATION

A timeless tribute to honor and recognize the courage and commitment of past and present men and women of Meridian and East Mississippi who have served in the U. S. Armed Services. The East Mississippi Veterans Memorial Park will HONOR, EDUCATE and INSPIRE.
HONOR: To honor and recognize our service members and to instill in each of us a sense of appreciation, respect and awe for the individuals who served honorably and who are serving in order to preserve the freedoms that we cherish.
EDUCATE: To educate visitors, community and future generations about American military history and the role and contributions played in it by Mississippi service members. The memorial will foster a public understanding of the sacrifices made by all and their families during their service to our country, especially to those Veterans who served on the battlefields in order to protect and maintain the freedoms we enjoy.
INSPIRE: To inspire future generations to serve and carryon those values and love of country that their past ancestors have done before them so that we can continue to have the freedoms and rights that our great nation was founded upon.
The East Mississippi Veterans Memorial Park will create a distinctive and unique world class Memorial that gives veterans, their families and the community a peaceful area to reflect on the past and honor those who served and are currently serving. A timeless venue to honor all our service members for generations to come.
The Memorial Park will consist of four distinctive areas that cultivate an inviting atmosphere, allowing visitors to take time to honor, reflect and remember.
Static Aircraft Display - RF-4C Phantom II, 67-0438, a previous aircraft flown by the Mississippi Air National Guard, Meridian, Mississippi. This display would honor the many men and women of the 186th Meridian Air Guard and those veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Cold War era and Desert Storm.
A plaque commemorating the history of the F-4 Phantom and its service with the Mississippi Air National Guard.
A monument dedicated to four crewmembers of the 186th, who lost their lives in an aircraft accident flying the F-4 Phantom would be adjacent to the displayed aircraft.
Variations of the Phantom aircraft served our great nation for over 58 years before it’s’ retirement. This static display aircraft would be maintained as a historical artifact to educate and inspire future generations. (5,195 were built)
Armed Forces Plaza – A pentagon shaped plaza with a sculpture of the American Bald Eagle, which symbolizes the strength and freedom of America, displayed in the center. On the five points of the pentagon will be black granite monoliths with a laser images and text depicting a brief history of each branch of service. Each service flag would be flying adjacent to its monoliths.
Freedom Walkway – A walkway though 12 black granite monoliths that highlight 12 major conflicts in American History from the American Revolution to current day War on Terror. Each monolith will be laser etched with images and text giving a brief history of that conflict. The total number casualties will be listed– truly illustrating that “Freedom is Not Free”.
Wall of Remembrance- This will consist of 9 (4’ x 8’) granite panels covered in black granite allowing laser etching of images and text honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. On either side of the center Wall of Remembrance would be space to place 6” x 6” black granite tiles honoring 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 flag, POW/MIA flag and the State of Mississippi flag flying overhead. Adjacent to the wall will be a bronze Fallen Soldier Battlefield Cross that symbolizes the honor, service and sacrifice of soldiers killed in battle.