By Tanna M. Friday, Managing Editor
TRUSSVILLE —The Trussville City Council, Veterans Committee, and community members honored fallen soldiers in a groundbreaking ceremony at the Trussville Veterans Park, a site for the construction of the Alabama Fallen Warriors Monument.
The Trussville City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, to approve the construction of a State of Alabama Fallen Warriors Monument to be built at Trussville’s Veterans Park. The monument will honor all Alabama Military Service Members who died during the war on terror.
“It is said when a military service member is killed, he or she dies two deaths,” said Mark Davis, Founder Vettes4Vets. “One is when they die, the second is when they are forgotten. Our mission is to ensure the second death does not happen.”
Since Sept. 11, 2001, over 200 Alabama military service members paid the ultimate price for our freedom, including 116 soldiers who were killed in action; 110 who died non-hostile deaths; and four (4) military service members killed in the Pentagon on 9/11. The Project Alabama Fallen Warriors Project (AFWP) honors members of the United States armed forces, including Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, and range from 18-year-old Privates to 54-year-old colonels on 60 counties of Alabama.
Davis, founder of the AFWP and U.S. Navy Veteran, said that the project’s goal is to dedicate the AFWP Monument on Memorial Day, May 20, 2022. The project will cost an estimated $200,000, but generous donations have been raised from supporters. To donate to the Alabama Fallen Warrior Monument, visit www.alabamafallenwarriorsproject.org.