Marine Aviation Memorial Bell Tower
Celebrating 100 Years of
Marine Corps Aviation
On August 19, 2012, the Marine Aviation Memorial Bell Tower will be placed in a dedication ceremony at Pensacola’s Veterans Memorial Park. The Memorial dedication will commemorate the day in 1912 when Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham flew his first solo flight as a United States Marine, and it will mark the centennial year of Marine Aviation.
This is an original National Memorial that honors all Aviation Marines from “Wrench Turners”, Air Traffic Controllers and Aircrew, to Wing Command & Control, Wing Logistics Marines and Expeditionary Airfield Marines – absolutely every Marine who made Marine Aviation possible by twisting a wrench, controlling the air, pushing parts, building expeditionary airfields or crewing an aircraft to put Marines in the air to fight for Marines on the deck during the last 100 years.
ALL Marines in the aviation warfare fields receive their foundational training here in the greater Pensacola Bay area prior to transferring to operational forces. There is NO BETTER PLACE than Pensacola, Florida, to station this Memorial, which takes its place in history as ONLY the 3rd National Memorial to America’s Marines behind the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the Beirut Bombing Memorial at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
The Memorial will honor Aviation Marines who have fallen in defense of our Nation. The special 24″ solid cast Bronze Bell centerpiece of the Tower will specifically pay tribute to Marines who sacrificed their lives in the execution of the Casualty Evacuation and Medical Evacuation missions throughout the history of Marine Aviation.
Honoring the Past, Saluting the Present, Inspiring the Future
of Marine Aviation
