On Sunday, May 18, the city of Mountain Brook will host a Memorial Day Ceremony in Mountain Brook’s newest park, the Alabama Veterans Memorial Park. This unique 22-acre park was donated to the city by the Alabama Veteran’s Memorial Foundation in November 2023 and includes the Alabama Veterans Memorial, the only memorial dedicated solely to Alabama veterans killed in conflict.
The 1,000-foot brick-lined Memorial Trail begins at the parking lot and winds through a natural wooded area to the American Flag Plaza featuring a 120-foot-tall flagpole. Encircling the flagpole are four-inch by eight-inch brick pavers honoring every Alabamian who has died in military conflicts from the 20th Century forward. Each stone is engraved with a veteran’s name, rank, and branch of service.
Further down the Trail is the Memorial Plaza, which features the five Service flags and a regiment of 36 columns that are two feet in diameter and 24 feet tall. Displayed on the columns are metal plaques that provide information about Alabama Medal of Honor recipients, original artwork by Alabama artists and documents and letters about Alabama veterans.
Behind the columns is the Hall of Honor with the names of over 11,000 Alabama veterans who were killed in action during the wars from 1900 forward.
The alphabetized names of the service men and women are listed by the war and the Alabama county in which they enlisted.
The formal ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Flag Plaza featuring guest speaker Brigadier General Jeffrey L. Newton (Retired), the Commissioner for the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, who will talk about veteran’s benefits in Alabama. Mountain Brook Police Department officers will serve as the color guard, SFC Stephanie Whatley-Farmer will sing the Star Spangled Banner and patriotic music will be performed by the Hoover Songbirds accompanied by pianist Linda Campbell and guitarist Dr. Bud Brown.
There will also be ice cream served by the Church of the Highlands, additional information on veteran resources and a display of the winning pictures from the Hoover Middle School’s patriotic art contest
“Forever Grateful” and recognition of the winners
by Mountain Brook city councilor Graham Smith.
“Being in this park is always a moving experience,” says Mayor Stewart Welch.
