Mrs. Jeanne Tritt Mathis had a vision – she wanted Crockett County to recognize the military service of its men and women, past and present. She believed that the veterans from Crockett County deserved recognition for their patriotic service to this great country.
After successfully recruiting Bobby Cates to spearhead the Memorial effort, sadly Jeanne died in August 2007 before the newly formed committee could meet. However, the committee felt it should continue with the project and dedicate it in memory of Jeanne. Private donations and names of servicemen & women for the Memorial began to come in from county residents. Expectations were quickly surpassed as word spread about the visionary memorial. What was initially thought to be a multi-year project was planned, designed, funds raised, and erected in just over a year. This, in itself, is a great tribute to all the citizens of Crockett County.
The committee reviewed four proposals and unanimously selected Greenfield Monuments to design, engrave, and install the granite tablets. The Memorial consists of one black center stone tablet, one bench dedicated to the memory of Jeanne Mathis, and 15 additional tablets that reflect the names of all county service men and women who have served from World War I to present day. The black tablet displays the 82 local names who sacrificed all for their country during service in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The fifteen tablets reflect 4,962 names of local servicemen and women who have served our country on active duty. Each monument sits on a double granite base. The entire monument is wheelchair accessible.
The Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2008, a mere 15 months after the initial committee meeting. Out of county donations were received from states such as NC, VA, AL, CA, AZ, MS, GA, & FL. By the end of 2008, almost $70,000 had been collected. The tablets for the Memorial cost $46,000. Another $9,000 was spent on such things as site preparation, concrete, sod/landscaping, advertising, & programs. The cost to add 381 additional names in 2009 and 2010 was $19,000. Names are added each October. The Memorial committee continues to meet to discuss such items as security, maintenance & upkeep of the memorial, fundraising for its perpetual care, adding of names, and photos for the internet site. If you know of a name omission, please contact Ira Burrow, at 731-696-5464, or email at:ibcso@crockettnet.com.
Donations in honor of, or in memory of, a loved one are always welcomed and can be mailed to Ira Burrow at 228 E. Church St, Alamo, TN 38001. Your donations, in any amount, help offset the cost of adding new names and the recurring Memorial’s maintenance & upkeep costs. (Checks should be made out to the Crockett County Veterans Association and are tax deductible.)
To further emphasize its maintenance and upkeep funding, Crockett County Veterans Association established a “Friends of the Memorial” in April 2011. Qualified members receive a Veterans Memorial commemorative coin which reflects its dedication date of November 11, 2008; and, those who join before November 2014 will be recognized on a plaque which will be dedicated on Veterans Day 2014.
Jeanne Mathis’ dream is now reality.
This picture, of the wonderful people who worked on this project, is from the groundbreaking, taken on July 11, 2008. One key person, Flint Gregory, is not in the photo. From left to right are: John Gibbons, Bobby Cates (Cmte Chairman), Ed Wilson, Davie Lee Riddick, Annette Riddick, Ira Burrow, Maude Ferguson, Steve Emison, Fred Ferguson, & Wanda Richardson.
The tree behind them in the photo is where the memorial now resides. The physical work took place from the end of July until they had the tablets in place on November 3. They were then covered up until they were unveiled at the November 11 ceremony.
Col (Ret) Steve Emison at the beginning of the dedication
Keynote speaker, Lt Gen Glad Castellaw, USMC Retired
Unveiling of Centerstone
Navy Band
Bagpipes
Alamo Elementary School Cheerleaders Performing
