A few years ago, we published a short article (HERE) about the East Mississippi Veterans Foundation and its efforts to establish a memorial park honoring Mississippi’s military veterans on land adjacent to historic Key Field. Located at Meridian Regional Airport, Key Field is home to a long-standing Air National Guard presence and holds deep significance in the state’s aviation and military history. A major milestone for the memorial park came in 2022 with the arrival of McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II, serial number 67-0438. After spending decades in desert storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, the aircraft made its journey to Meridian aboard a low-loader. Upon arrival, a dedicated team carefully offloaded the weathered reconnaissance jet and mounted it atop a pylon, where it was slated to receive extensive restoration work in preparation for permanent public display.
More recently, the Foundation announced the addition of another significant artifact to the park: a KC-135 Stratotanker tail section, installed in May and now displayed adjacent to the RF-4C Phantom. The local Air National Guard unit that once operated the RF-4C currently flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. Several years ago, the unit received a surplus tanker tail for training purposes, and rather than returning it to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), permission was granted to donate the tail section to the East Mississippi Veterans Park.
The tail came from KC-135R Stratotanker 61-0302, a veteran of Desert Storme, which last served with the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, 154th Wing. One side of the tail has been painted in the markings of a former Meridian-based tanker, KC-135A 57-1418. That aircraft was lost in 1999 during a pressurization test while undergoing depot maintenance. The opposite side of the donated tail remains unpainted for now, with plans underway to add a mural depicting the Key Brothers and the history of Key Field. That artwork is expected to be completed this spring.
In addition to the aircraft displays, May marked a particularly productive period for the park, with the completion of the Armed Forces Plaza and the installation of the Freedom Wall and commemorative street signage. Together, these additions continue to expand the park’s role as a place of remembrance, education, and community engagement. A short overview video of the East Mississippi Veterans Park is available below.
The East Mississippi Veterans Foundation leads the effort to build the East Mississippi Veterans Park in Meridian, Mississippi, to bring honor, recognition, and remembrance to those men and women, past and present, from Meridian and East Mississippi who served in the U. S. Armed Forces. This perpetual memorial is intended to salute the service and sacrifices of all who served, as well as their families and friends. Those wishing to support the East Mississippi Veterans Foundation and contribute to its ongoing projects can find more information HERE.
