VETERAN HONOR TRAIL

At Talladega's Hall of Heroes Museum, we aspire to be more than simply a collection of unique local items. We are devoted to creating a living, interactive learning experience through special events and exhibitions. Our carefully curated private collection attempts to impart our knowledge and ideas, and to instill excitement and imagination in our visitors. The museum is steadfast in its commitment that our veterans will never be forgotten, including the 260 military service members from Talladega County who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, from World War I to our present day. And as our Curator, Jimmy Williams says, “At the Hall of Heroes, every day is Veteran’s Day!”

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Built 1836, Talladega's Courthouse is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in Alabama. In front of the building is a monument dedicated to the men and women of Talladega County who served their country, memorializing those who gave their lives for our freedom. The monument lists names of the fallen from the Vietnam War, World War I, and World War II.

USS Talladega (APA/LPA-208) was a Haskell-class attack transport of the US Navy active in WWII in the invasion of Japan, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Four Marines pictured in Joe Rosenthal's famous flag-raising photograph debarked from Talladega to climb Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima.

The CMP loves to give back to our community's veterans! We partner with the Honored American Veterans Afield yearly to host an event at the range at absolutely no cost. Veterans and their families are welcomed to any range of their choice, and they normally bring about 10 families to enjoy shooting and have a good time at the range.

The CMP also partners with USA Shooting for WAG Championships yearly in December (Winter Airgun Championships). We have a category for PARA athletes who are veterans who can shoot in competitions against each other and win awards, go to the olympics, and enjoy themselves just like everyone else.

In addition, the CMP hosts the DDay matches yearly in June. This celebration honors the anniversary of the 1944 Allied Forces landing at France’s Normandy through outdoor rifle and pistol competitions and activities. The weekend also features authentic World War II memorabilia from local Alabama veterans.

At CMP year-round, see the Halll of Heroes Museum's rotating exhibits showcasing uniforms and artifacts from various periods in our country's military and weapons' history.

“The work of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and the Order of the Purple Heart to bring this idea to fruition is a credit not only to your dedication and efforts, but to the community as a whole,” Oxford Mayor (2012) Pat Patterson said. Lafayette County Board of Supervisors President Jeff Busby echoed, “This park offers a great reminder of the efforts and sacrifices made by our veterans to assure that we have the freedoms we have today.”

In 1999 the Alabama State Legislature designated Centennial Memorial Park as the Veteran's Memorial for the State of Alabama. The names every Alabamian who was killed during World War I and II Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf are engraved in the Zimbabwe Black granite. Centrally located is Alabama-shaped reflecting pool. In front of the pool is the wall honoring the Vietnam veterans with the arched shaped walls facing the pool engraved with men and women killed in World War I and World War II. The Korean War veteran's names are located on the other side of the Vietnam War Memorial. Most recently the Alabama State Legislature passed a Resolution for the park to be the official AL Memorial Park for Afghanistan and Iraq. The Park is also the home for the State of Alabama Law Enforcement Memorial honoring all law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. A resolution has also passed for creation of a memorial wall to recognize Alabama firefighters killed in the line of duty. Park visitors are able to do rubbings of names etched in the walls. Memorial Day and Veteran's Day Services are held every year at 11am on the appropriate date.

The marble wall lists the names of veterans, living and deceased, from Sylacauga and the surrouding areas.