When Abilene ISD announced its Memorial Wall project last November, no one knew how the public would receive the idea. The thought all along was to memorialize the names of AISD graduates and employees who served in a branch of the United States military and have passed away, either while on active duty or after completion of their service.

Announced on Veteran’s Day of 2021, the plan was to build a memorial park on the grounds near the old Dyess Elementary School building to create a new walkway from the Dyess AFB gate to the front of the new Dyess building.

The memorial park features the F-4D Phantom jet that has been part of the Dyess campus since 1990. Included in the site will be a black granite wall that will have the names of veterans nominated by friends and family members chiseled into the stone.

“I am thrilled that our veteran former students and employees who have served our country valiantly will now have a place to be memorialized by the Abilene Independent School District,” Superintendent Dr. David Young said. “It is my hope that our students, parents, staff, and other community members will find the AISD Memorial Park to be a place to reflect, honor, and celebrate the lives of these American heroes.”

In the coming months, the AISD will feature on its website and in the AISD Newsletter some of the stories associated with the names on the wall. For instance:

  • The story of a family of Abilenians who served in either World War II or the Korean conflict, including one who was part of Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army in World War II.
  • The story of an Abilene High School graduate who became a pilot in World War II and who – on a return flight to England during one of his missions preparing for the D-Day invasion – made it back to his base despite going into shock after shrapnel from German artillery almost wholly severed his right arm.
  • Or the story of a Cooper High School graduate-turned-Naval aviator whose jet was shot down during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The stories of the men and women whose names will be etched into the wall are sure to cause reflection and keep memories alive, and we look forward to telling those stories throughout the upcoming year.