This is a Great Place to Visit in Birmingham, Alabama to pay respect to Veterans

You can find a similar place in Cave Springs, Georgia (just across the Alabama line) on Highway 411. They have a walkway around their town square with pavers which contain the name of the men who have served from the area. It is a beautiful walk. The boyscouts in Alabama in Birmingham, have a similar walkway with the names of the eagle scouts from Alabama. Every town needs this walkway in the main square.

Are all Alabama war veterans on the wall? My brother was in Vietnam, my father was in WWII, and two of my great uncle’s were in WWI.

We, here in Andalusia, Al, also have a very nice Veteran’s Park with Engraved Brick Paver’s as a foot-path, saluting those both alive & dead from this area who serve & have served. There is a POW Memorial, a KIA & a MOH Memorial. Beautiful anytime of year.

My profile picture this weekend is of one of those men on the walls of the memorial, an uncle I never had the honor of knowing, PFC Charles Leo Deason, U. S. Army, KIA November 30, 1950 at the Battle of the Chongchon River near Kuni-Ri, North Korea. His name from the Alabama Veteran’s Memorial is superimposed on it.

“Jefferson County’s Honor Roll in WWI” . . .

The Rainbow Viaduct – Alabama Historical Marker (21st St. S. viaduct)
“Dedicated to the Brave Men of the 167th Infantry who fought to Preserve Our Freedom
West Side Marker –
On May 10, 1919, soon after its completion, this 21st Street Viaduct was named the Rainbow Viaduct in tribute to Alabama’s famous 167th Infantry of the Rainbow Division, renowned for Bravery and Honor. The 167th was the Nation’s only regiment in World War 1 referred to by its home state — “The Alabama,” made up of men from throughout Alabama, including a large number from Birmingham, this regiment had to its credit the following brave deeds,among countless others:

* Advanced farthest into German lines — to Sedan.
* Took the first German prisoners captured by Americans.
* Only Rainbow Regiment to achieve two Honor Medals.
* Fought in trenches two days longer than any other American Regiment.

The only Southern Regiment in the First Army at occupation on Rhine, the 167th fought in the Battles of Lineville, Baccarat, Esperance – Sousain, Champagne,Marce, Red Cross Farm, following Chateau – Thierry, Aisne – Marne, Essey -Paunes, Meuse – Argonne, Seban.”

“Roll Of Honor – East Side Marker
This Rainbow Viaduct is Dedicated to the Memory of the Jefferson County Members of the 167th Infantry, Rainbow Division of Whom the Following were Killed in Action or Died of Wounds in the World War 1914 – 1918

Joe Atwood • Andrew Bailey • Sam Barr • Louis A. Burger • Usury Burnett • Carl Canoles • WM. Churchwell • Jas. W. Cornett • Harry P. Couch • Wilbur T. Crowder • Carl Evatt • Attle A. Fred • Jas. C. Farleyerick • Walter Hammett • Braxton Harville • Elmus Hayes • Emile Henckell • Mortimer H. Jordan • Bishop M. Lee • Worth Lewis • Chas. Sherr • John H. Skinner • Bernie B. Loveman • Walter L. Moore • Judge E. Morgan • Robert L. Morton • Wilfred Niles • Harry Parkman • Fred Rogers • Newton M. Roy • Austin Ruff • Benj. Rutstein • Royal Seay • Theo. E. Sims • Handos Sinnott • Bernice Speaks • Clarence Swindle • Herman G. Syphurs • Stanley Warble • Will F. Wheeler • D. F. Wilson • Oscar Woods • Bruce Nolan • John D. O’Neal”

The Heritage of Jefferson County, Alabama. 2002. p. 9. Abstracted by Caroline Horton (Braxton B. Harvill was my paternal gt. uncle.)

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Braxton B. Harville (ASN: 97973), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 167th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 15 October 1918. During the attack on the Cote-de-Chatillon corporal Harville volunteered and with utter disregard of his own personal danger went forward alone crawling until he reached a position where he could enfilade an enemy machine-gun nest which was holding up the advance. While continuing on his mission and firing on the enemy next he was knocked down twice by enemy fire, but each time he arose and continued moving forward, until he was killed by a machine-gun bullet when about 50 yards from the nest.”
Source: War Department General Orders; http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/war/12_wwi.html