Purpose

The purpose of the Veterans Memorial Park of Jackson County (VMPJC) is:

  • Honor the men and women from Jackson County who served and sacrificed their lives to preserve our freedoms.
  • Recognize and honor all military servicemen and women of the Armed Forces: Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force.
  • Honor and remember Prisoners of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) veterans.
  • Educate our citizens with an emphasis on our children, on US military history, and the military conflicts that have been fought to preserve our freedoms.
  • Establish an environment that demonstrates honor and respect for all visitors by maintaining a place of peace and quiet solitude.

History

In the summer of 2014, Scottsboro VFW Post 6073 acquired a Korean War-era M103 series Army tank.  The tank was transported to Scottsboro and placed on display on veteran-owned property adjacent to the VFW and American Legion Post Home.

While finalizing the arrangements to transport the tank, veterans started to discuss the possibilities of transforming about 6 acres of veteran-owned property into a Veterans Memorial Park for all of Jackson County.  The tank would be the cornerstone of the park and the first of several military displays planned for the park.

A steering committee was formed in 2014 from interested veterans and other local officials, including the mayor of Scottsboro and the chairman of the Jackson County Commission. The steering committee then began work on organizing and planning for the development of the park.  Early work of the steering committee was the formation of a non-profit entity for the park donations and presentations to city and town councils in Jackson County to inform them of the park. In July 2015,  the formation of a non-profit IRS 501(c) corporation was completed. The committee then moved forward with preparing, reviewing, and approving design plans.

On Memorial Day, May 31, 2016, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to initiate the construction phase of the park.    Progress on earth moving moved slowly as donated equipment from the city and county was utilized as time permitted.  After a very wet winter and spring, earthwork resumed in late spring 2017.  In October 2017, using volunteers for forming and a concrete contractor, the first concrete was placed for the 100’ diameter Monument Circle star.  A ceremony was held just prior to that where sands from foreign military conflict beaches were buried directly under the middle of the star.  In January 2018, concrete for the Monument Circle was completed.  On May 25, 2019, the black granite Honor Wall and five service monuments for each branch of the Armed Forces were dedicated. In August 2020 the Brotherhood Pavilion was dedicated.  In October 2020, a refurbished Cobra helicopter was mounted for display.  

The Park was dedicated on  November 14, 2020.  A 35′ wingspan Hunter drone was mounted for display in June 2022.  Additional walkway lights and connecting walkways were completed in August  2022.  The lighted Patriots Walkway along the back side of the Park was dedicated in October 2022.  Work is underway on the refurbishment of a Huey helicopter for display in summer of 2023.