Tybee Veteran's Memorial

Sunday, December 7th marks the 67th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Just before eight o'clock on a Sunday morning in 1941 -- Nearly 400 Japanese warplanes attacked the home port of the United States' Pacific fleet in Hawaii. 24-hundred Americans were killed and another 12-hundred wounded -- leading to America's involvement in World War II. This anniversary will be remembered by veterans on Tybee Island for more reason than one. It will be remembered as the day ground was broken for a new memorial to honor their service.

Ronnie Tatum is a Marine on a mission. He makes a point of visiting veteran's memorials whenever he travels - and thought his home of Tybee Island could do more than the city had been able to do in the past. “I said to myself - in today's date it's unacceptable - we need something bigger, better to really show off to the citizens and visitors of Tybee Island that Tybee Island cares about their veterans.” So he and a friend formed a committee to do just that with the full support of city officials like Tybee Mayor Jason Buelteman, “Tybee has such a wonderful little democracy out here and it's because of the veterans - not only from Tybee, but from all over and all of our wars that made this possible.”

After months of planning and fundraising - a groundbreaking was held Sunday afternoon for the Tybee Island Circle of Freedom monument - and the mayor says this is only the beginning. “It's a pretty good sized monument actually and there'll be a walkway to the sidewalk, to the parking lot over there and to the park back that way and we're gonna plant some shrubs and trees and things to frame it real nice.” Ronnie Tatum says it’s a monument for all, “This is the only memorial in the world of this type. This is the only memorial that represents all vets - from the merchant marines all the way around. It represents all wars and conflicts and we do have room to grow.” Although they hope they never have to. If you're interested in buying a brick or making a donation to the tybee veterans memorial -- we're on your side with how you can do so.

If you want to donate click < a href="http://www.tybeevetsmemorial.com/">here.