Memorial Day services in north and south Walton May 31

May 6, 2021

Gum Creek Cemetery Annual Memorial Day Service – DeFuniak Springs

The Gum Creek Cemetery Memorial Day service will be held on Monday May 31, 2021. The service will be held at the Gum Creek Cemetery near Glendale, Florida and will begin at 8 a.m.

Gum Creek Cemetery is one of the oldest Cemeteries in Walton County serving our community for over 160 years. The cemetery marks the final resting place of veterans of the American wars all the way back to the early 19th Century, with 12 known Civil War veterans and one Seminole War Veteran interned at this cemetery.

The public is invited as we recognize this special day, all who served, and those who paid the full price for freedom. This event will include the posing of colors and those attending will have the opportunity to recognize any veteran and any situation which represents to dignity of this day.

Gum Creek Cemetery is located at 1350 Co Hwy 183B, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433

For additional information you may contact Tom Baker at 850-333-2195.

Gulf Cemetery – Santa Rosa Beach

The Historic Gulf Cemetery will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 31 at 10 a.m.  The cemetery is located at 1466 S County Highway 393 in Santa Rosa Beach. Approximately 150 veterans are interred in the cemetery and will be honored in a service that will include a keynote speech by retired Air Force general, Philip Breedlove.

This year’s ceremony will look slightly different as they will not have the large tents to encourage social distancing. Also, the ceremony will be somewhat abbreviated.  Folks are encouraged to bring umbrellas and/or personal lawn chairs.  A limited number of folding chairs will be provided.  This ceremony is a wonderful opportunity for the entire family to join in a dignified, respectful, and patriotic tribute to the men and women who served our country in the Armed Forces and paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.  For more information, visit gulfcemetery.org.

The Gulf Cemetery Association in conjunction with this year’s ceremony, will sponsor The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall© coming to Santa Rosa Beach throughout the Memorial Day Weekend 2021.  The wall will be at the Chapel at Crosspoint located at 1477 S Co Hwy 393, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, directly across from the cemetery.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall© is a 3/5 scale of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, it stands six feet tall at the center and covers almost 300 feet from end to end.  The Wall will be open to the public 24/7 through Memorial Day weekend, except for Sunday morning from the hours of 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. to accommodate traffic flow and parking for Sunday services at the Chapel at Crosspoint.  The wall will re-open to visitors on Sunday afternoon through Monday, May 31st.

If you should have any questions, please contact Dr. H. L. “Scooter” Ward, Jr. at (850) 267-2599 or AssocPastor@srbcc.com.