5 Reasons to Visit the EOD Memorial Wall

How many of you have ever visited the EOD (Explosive Ordinance Wall) at Elgin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle? How many of you even knew it existed? I can personally tell you that I never heard of it before, but now that I have...it's on my must-see list the next time we visit the great state of Florida.

Today, I'm sharing a travel guest post with all of you about the EOD Memorial Wall.

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 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).

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.