Beaches Servicemembers Who Died in Undeclared Wars

Thanks to the efforts of American Legion Post 129’s Sons of The American Legion (SAL), the first memorials have been installed in Jacksonville Beach honoring Beaches military servicemembers who perished in the Vietnam and Korean wars – along with those who gave their lives in America’s undeclared wars. The organization raised donations to allocate nearly $25,000 to create the new memorials, which were installed in front of Post 129, located at 1151 S. 4th St. in Jacksonville Beach. “It is satisfying that we finally got it installed to memorialize the many servicemembers who served, their families – and especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during these armed conflicts and wars to protect our freedoms,” said SAL member Dave Breitenstein. An estimated 40,000 American military personnel died during the Korean Conflict, more than 57,000 Americans died in Vietnam, and more than 7,000 American servicemembers have died in the post-9/11 conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations as part of the War on Terror. After being approached by Legion Treasurer Jim Wineland, SAL member Brian Haught initiated the project in 2022 – developing pillar designs with John Allan with AAA Monuments, which later finalized and installed the new monuments. SAL member Dave Breitenstein later spearheaded the design and proposal to fund a new veterans monument project. In addition, the Legion’s bell tower was renovated by local contractor Al Yardley as part of the project. “A special thank-you goes out to the SAL leadership team and Legion leadership team for funding and approving the project, including our late Commander Joe Mailchle and current commander Jeff Durden, who championed the project,” Breitenstein said. He commended other project participants Terry Rickland and Dallas Nelson, along with Jimmy and Vivian Richmond and their family, for volunteering renovation and construction assistance to complete the monument. Although there had been plans for Vietnam and Korean War memorials, the idea for honoring those lost in undeclared wars came with the passage of the LEGION Act in 2019, which acknowledged the service and sacrifice of veterans who died or were wounded in previously undeclared periods of war over the last century.