Veterans Memorial Wall facts for kids
The Veterans Memorial Wall is a special place in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It is located at 1145 East Adams Street, right next to the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. This monument was built to honor American war heroes from the Jacksonville area. It was officially opened in November 1995.
This outdoor memorial is very unique. It was called "the largest of its kind." It was also known as "the only wall that honors veterans from all six service branches." These branches are the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine. The wall is 65 feet long and made of black granite. It has the names of service members from World War I all the way through recent conflicts. A torch with an eternal flame stands in front of the wall. This flame burns forever as a symbol of remembrance.
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What is the Veterans Memorial Wall?
The Veterans Memorial Wall is a monument dedicated to brave men and women. These are people from the Jacksonville area who served in the United States military. They gave their lives in wars and conflicts. The wall helps us remember their courage and sacrifice.
Honoring Heroes from All Branches
One special thing about this wall is that it honors heroes from every part of the military. This includes:
- The Army
- The Navy
- The Marines
- The Air Force
- The Coast Guard
- The Merchant Marine
Most other memorials might focus on one or two branches. This wall makes sure everyone is remembered.
Names on the Wall
The black granite wall holds many names. These names belong to service members who died in different wars. They include those from:
- World War I
- World War II
- The Korean War
- The Vietnam War
- Operation Desert Storm
- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
- The ongoing war on terrorism
More names are added as needed. This ensures that new heroes are also honored.
Memorial Day Ceremony
The Veterans Memorial Wall is the site of Jacksonville's yearly Memorial Day ceremony. Memorial Day is a special holiday. It is when we remember and honor people who died while serving in the U.S. military. During this ceremony, any local service member who lost their life in the past year is honored. Their names are then added to the wall.
Remembering Scott Speicher
Every Memorial Day, a group gathers at the wall. These are the family, friends, and classmates of Navy pilot Scott Speicher. Scott grew up in Jacksonville. He was shot down during the first night of Operation Desert Storm in 1991. His remains were not found until August 2, 2009. His story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by military families.
The Wall's Location and Growth
When the wall was first built, it was very close to the Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum. This was an indoor arena. In 2003, the Coliseum was taken down. Special care was taken to protect the Memorial Wall during this process. After the Coliseum was gone, the area around the wall was turned into a beautiful walking park. This park is about 2 acres in size.
Adding More Names
As new conflicts happened, more space was needed on the wall. In 2005, a new base and panel were added. This was to make room for those who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, it became clear that even more space would be needed. So, another panel was added in 2010. This was for the 15th anniversary of the monument. In 2010, ten new names were added. Four more names were added in 2014. Now, the wall honors over 1,600 heroes.
Images for kids
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Full view of memorial wall
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A hand reaches out to touch the name of a loved one.
