Liberty Coast
The National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum Evolution of the Chapel of the High-Speed Pass
A group of volunteers on The Liberty Coast has embraced National POW/MIA Recognition Day as a call to greater action. The Cecil Field POW/MIA Memorial, Inc.’s mission is to establish the National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum on 26-acres at the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field, currently known as Cecil Commerce Center. The resulting project will be the center of our nation’s reflection of and education about the more than 140,000 prisoners of war and missing in action since World War II. The group began their efforts by renovating the original Vietnam War Memorial—now called the Heroes Walk—and the former base chapel, named Chapel of the High-Speed Pass. Heroes Walk began on September 11, 1973, after 16 trees were planted and markers were dedicated to remember Cecil Fieldbased naval aviators who were classified as prisoners of war or missing in action during the Vietnam War and first Gulf War. The chapel served thousands of military personnel and their families, to include hosting tearful family members as they remembered fallen pilots, until 1999. After Cecil Field closed as a military base that same year, the chapel became a storage facility. Now refurbished, the historical chapel complex is the centerpiece of the memorial and museum project. The chapel will be the home of the POW/MIA Memorial & Museum while the national facilities are funded and developed. Phase one is currently under construction and will honor all who were lost while stationed at NAS Cecil Field; Naval Aviators, Air Crewmen and others who lost their lives will be remembered. Additionally, the history of the USS Saratoga (CV-60), as well as the USS Forrestal (CV-59) incident of 1967 that took the lives of 134 crewmembers, will be showcased. The focus of this dedicated group of volunteers is to eventually establish a national memorial for ALL branches of the U.S. Armed Forces to honor former prisoners of war and acknowledge those who are still missing in action. There is a bill currently in Congress seeking that this site be designated as the country’s only nationally recognized memorial for ALL missing military personnel. We recommend a drive through the Cecil Commerce Center/ Airport complex to see the military, aviation and industrial activity on the former naval base. To learn more about Chapel of the High-Speed Pass and the future National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum visit POWMIAMemorial.org. This is part of an ongoing series about the many military and Veteran organizations that makes up The Liberty Coast. Story and photos compiled by POWMIAMemorial.org and Liberty Life staff. 06 | LIBERTYLIFEMEDIA.COM | SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 VOL. 1 / ISSUE 6
Liberty Resources
Loved Ones and Survivors of Suicide Resources
Suicide is a national public health issue that affects all Americans, including military and Veterans. As September is National Suicide Prevention month, Liberty Life is sharing resources and information to support loved ones and survivors of suicide. The health and well-being of our Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families is our highest priority.
National Alliance on Mental Wellness (NAMI) NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. The NAMI Veterans and Active Duty page focuses on questions that military personnel often ask concerning treatment resources, disclosure and staying healthy during the transition to civilian life. Nami.org/Find-Support/Veterans-and-Active-Duty A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide An exerpt from page one: “You are a “survivor of suicide,” and as that unwelcome designation implies, your survival—your emotional survival—will depend on how well you learn to cope with your tragedy. The bad news: Surviving this will be the second worst experience of your life. The good news: The worst is already over.” Suicidology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/SOS_handbook.pdf American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Whether you have struggled with suicide yourself or have lost a loved one, know you are not alone. Hear about personal experiences from people in your local community whose lives have been impacted by suicide. Local chapters in Georgia and North Florida. If you are in a crisis, call 800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741. AFSP.org Give An Hour: Campaign to Change Direction Give an Hour has harnessed a network of generous and compassionate providers across the United States who use their expertise to provide free, quality mental health care to at-risk populations, including our troops, our Veterans, their family members, and their communities. You can call for help or join the network of providers and offer your services to those at risk. ChangeDirection.org/give-an-hour/ The Recovery Village Register for our teletherapy, telepsychiatry and other online addiction treatment programs and we’ll match you with a licensed professional who will meet with you regularly and guide you on the path to recovery. Call us at 855-621-1122, or visit our site at TheRecoveryVillage.com/treatment-program/online-counseling/ telehealth-app/ TAPS - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc. TAPS provides comfort, care and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one. Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24/7 through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. Call 24/7: 800-959-TAPS(8277), or visit Taps.org. The Days Ahead: Essential Papers for Families of Fallen Service Members This downloadable file helps surviving family members by providing resources — including listings of support organizations and programs, books and websites on grief and loss, and advice for coping with the loss of their loved one. This resource guide can be found at MilitaryOneSource.mil by searching “The Days Ahead.”
