5 Reasons to Visit the EOD Memorial Wall

5 Reasons to Visit the EOD Memorial Wall

I served in the U.S. Army for 6 years from 1987-1993.  I remember a couple of times where EOD meant quite a bit to me.  While I was in basic training while at Fort Jackson, SC I became friends with someone that was going to train to be a EOD Technician.  What I remember is that his final basic training test was different than ours, he had to be able to pass the final test with much more rigorous results.  He had to run the 2 miles in a certain amount of time while wearing a suit similar to what EOD Techs wear today, he passed with flying colors, and I gave him far more credit than me, because I don’t know if I could have did it.

Also while I was in the Army, I served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield.  EOD (Explosive Ordnance Technicians) kept us safe when we were traveling roads near Baghdad.  They are so crucial to so many lives, and deserve a memorial like they have.  Check out more info about it below.

The movie The Hurt Locker features story lines of what these brave men and women do as well.

NICEVILLE, Florida – (March 23, 2016) – Many people are not familiar with who Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians are or what they do in our military. Yet the more people learn about them, the more they become interested in learning more about the work they do, getting involved in supporting them, and rallying behind this important and worthy cause. Many others are surprised to learn that there is an EOD Memorial Wall, honoring fallen EOD technicians, available for the public to visit.

“The EOD Memorial Wall is a beautiful structure that features the names of over 300 fallen EOD warriors and it’s open to the public,” explains Nicole Motsek, executive director of the EOD Warrior Foundation. “We encourage people to visit the EOD memorial, and learn all they can about EOD technicians and the lifesaving work they do.”

Here are 5 reasons to visit the EOD Memorial Wall:

1. To learn. The memorial is a great place for people to learn about the EOD warriors who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
2. To teach. It’s a great place to take kids, so they can learn about the sacrifices the men and women in our military make, and see the wall in person.
3. Honor fallen. Visiting the wall and seeing the names of all the EOD warriors who have died in the line of duty is a great way to honor them and pay tribute.
4. See donations at work. The wall was built and is maintained by donations that people and businesses in the community make. Seeing it in person gives people a chance to see their donations put to good use.
5. To heal. Those who know an EOD warrior who has died, often finds comfort and healing by a visit to the EOD Memorial.

“Seeing the memorial wall is a meaningful experience for many people, especially those who knows a warrior named on the Wall,” added Motsek. “We are honored to be a part of caring for this important and beautiful memorial.  The Wall is there for the community, EOD technicians, their families, and all who want to pay tribute.  We remember!”

The EOD Memorial Wall is located at the Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle. The Memorial Wall was built in 1969 and contains the names of fallen EOD warriors. The wall is on a military base that is secure, but it is open to the public. Weekday times are 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with holiday and weekend hours being noon until 4:00 p.m.  If you are planning a trip to the area and would like to visit outside of normal hours, please contact them and they will do everything possible to accommodate a visit to the Wall.  For those who cannot visit the memorial in person, there is a virtual wall with names, bios and photos of the fallen EOD warriors on the EOD Warrior Foundation website.

The EOD Warrior Foundation will be hosting a memorial weekend, filled with activities. The EOD Memorial Weekend is May 6-7, 2016, and features events including a golf tournament, memorial ceremony, and an annual ball where LtCol Oliver North USMC (Ret.) will be the Keynote Speaker. For more information on the EOD Memorial Weekend activities, visit the site at: http://www.eodwarriorfoundation.org/eodweekend.

The EOD Warrior Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps military EOD personnel and their families. There are around 7,000 EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) technicians in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, performing the most dangerous job in the military, as they disarm explosive devices on the battlefields and at home. Many EOD personnel come home with debilitating injuries, including lost limbs, blindness, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), burns, and the invisible wounds of war, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

To learn more about the EOD Warrior Foundation, or see their fundraising events calendar, visit their site at: www.eodwarriorfoundation.org.

About EOD Warrior Foundation

The EOD Warrior Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the EOD family by providing emergency financial relief, scholarship opportunities, physical, social, and emotional support.  Specific programs include emergency financial support, education, hope and wellness retreats and events, and care of the EOD Memorial located at Eglin AFB, Fla. for wounded EOD warriors and their families, and families of Fallen EOD warriors, including both active duty and veteran EOD warriors.  To learn more about the EOD Warrior Foundation, or see their fundraising events calendar, visit their site at: www.eodwarriorfoundation.org.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."