The national POW/MIA Memorial & Museum
a partnership Between ROLLING THUNDER® INC. Florida Chapter 4 and THE CHAPEL OF THE HIGH SPEED PASS

The National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum is a vision of The Chapel of the High Speed Pass.  Through partnership with Rolling Thunder® Inc. Florida Chapter 4 and other supporters, we are working to turn this vision into a reality.  The picture above represents our vision of the memorial, museum and park dedicated to all of our POW/MIA Veterans.

POW/MIA Memorial Park, located inside Cecil Commerce Center, next to The Chapel of the Hight Speed Pass, will be the location of the POW/MIA Memorial & Museum.  The design will connect with all who visit on an emotional, intellectual and physical level.  The sun and the seasons have driven the location of structures where the solar activity on National POW/MIA Recognition Day in September creates a palpable experience. The National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum is a destination for all, focused on the hope that visitors will leave enriched, reverent and called to tell the story of the nation’s Prisoners of War and Missing in Action heroes.​*
* ​www.powmiamemorial.org/vision/

Community support is essential build our dream.  The Memorial will be built in stages as funding becomes available.  Through the generosity of local and national donors, we are off to a great start. Three memorials have already been built at the POW/MIA Park just outside the  front door of The Chapel of the High Speed Pass.  With continued support, we can provide a beautiful memorial to those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.  Scroll down to learn more about the three memorials currently at the POW/MIA Park.

Donate to the Memorial

Donate to Rolling Thunder

Gold star families memorial

What is  Gold Star Family?  Sadly, it is a family who has lost a loved one during their service in any branch of the U.S. Military.  Gold Star Families have borne the losses and wear a Gold Star or Next of Kin lapel pin with both pride and sorrow.  The pins were created to recognize these families' sacrifices.  

To honor these families, a Gold Star Memorial was placed outside the entrance of the Chapel of the High Speed Pass at POW-MIA Park in Cecil Commerce Center.  Rolling Thunder® Inc. Florida Chapter 4 is proud to one of many partners who made this Memorial become a reality.
 
The Gold Star symbol began during World War I. At the start of the American involvement in 1917, families hung banners with blue stars representing family members in the services. If the service member died in combat, the family changed the blue star to gold.
After the war, Gold Star mothers banded together. The group incorporated in 1928. This year’s Gold Star Mothers Day is Sept. 27.*

There are still Gold Star families from World War I, and many thousands from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.*  
*  www.powmiamemorial.org/visit/gold-star-families-memorial/

Hero's Walk & Freedom Trees

The “Vietnam War Memorial” at Cecil Field was originally dedicated on September 11, 1973 by the families and service members who wanted to ensure these brave men would never be FORGOTTEN.
The Jet Starburst is at the entrance and along the sidewalk, trees were planted for each pilot with engraved markers.  Mary Hoff, wife of MIA pilot LCDR Michael G. Hoff, was a driving force behind
establishing the memorial.  With the help of other spouses and family members, they successfully made the memorial a reality.

Naval Aircrewman Memorial

Placed right outside the front door of the Chapel of the High Speed Pass stands the Naval Aircrewman Memorial.  It was placed in honor of those Naval Aircrewman who were lost during the various wars and conflicts we have endured over the years.  It represents a place of honor where the families of those lost and missing can visit and know that our nation appreciates and has not forgotten their great sacrifice.

Plaza of honor bricks

"In Honor of"
​Bricksat the Benefactor Plaza

Bricks can be purchased “in honor of” or “in remembrance of” a family member/friend, or can be purchased with the donor’s name. The bricks will be for any and all patriots – those who have or are currently serving in any branch of the U.S. armed forces, those that serve our country in other capacities, and those donors who are enabling us to establish this memorial to honor all our former Prisoners of War and NEVER FORGET those still Missing in Action.

The choice is yours.