Leland Military Wall of Honor Project

New Updates on October 10, 2026

Previous status updates:

View Wall of Honor Brochure

Notice

The Leland Military Wall of Honor was dedicated on August 29, 2026, in front of the Leland Public Library on Broad Street, in conjunction with the 2026 LHS Reunion. Over 300 people attended.  The Wall is a legacy project started by the Leland High School Class of 1963, and it honors people from the Leland School District who served honorably in the United States Military at any time.  Its first phase includes the historical monument and 10 granite tablets engraved with the names of over 2,450 veterans.  More names will be added as new nominations are verified, so nominations and donations are still needed. See the forms in the updates above.

Background

Over forty-one million people have served in the United States military and people from the Leland School District have a rich heritage of service to our country. In fact, over five hundred military veterans are buried in the Leland-Stoneville cemetery alone, and that represents only a fraction of our veterans. One of the veterans is Master Sergeant Hubert Louis Lee, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions in the Korean War. Most people in Leland are simply not aware that such a famous person lived in Leland. He, however, is not alone. Thousands of others from Leland have served and continue to serve our military with valor, courage, and commitment. Veterans, both active duty and Reserve/National Guard, have given and continue to give a substantial portion of their lives in support of our country and some gave their lives.

Over 2,450 names are already engraved on the Wall, and more will be added as nomination forms are submitted by the public and verified.

Challenges

The greatest challenge to the Wall of Honor is identifying veterans whose name should be honored on the Wall. Over 2,450 veterans are already engraved on the Wall, and we expect many more as people learn about it. Anyone with knowledge of a veteran may submit a nomination; you will be notified if a fee is required to engrave your nominee's name.

The second major challenge is funding. The Wall is funded by donations from Leland School District friends and graduates in addition to a public fundraiser managed by Mark King. Past and present military veterans who resided in the Leland School District and their families, and others in the community may also donate. The Leland Chamber of Commerce (a 501(c)3 non-profit organization for tax purposes) has accepted the Wall as one of its projects which also facilitated our access to city properties. All donations are appreciated and will be accepted because they show your interest.

Sponsors

 We have tentatively established the following levels for named sponsors such as the Class of 1963. The sponsors will be identified on a separate wall panel at the library:

Sponsor Levels 1 Sponsor Designation
$10,000 or more Medal of Honor
$5,000 or more Distinguished Service
$4,000 or more Silver Star
$3,000 or more Legion of Merit
$2,000 or more Gold Star
$1,000 or more Bronze Star
$500 or more (brick paver) Meritorious Service
Less than $500 Certificate of Appreciation
  1. These levels and descriptive names may have to be modified as the initiative proceeds.

Forms and Documents

For more information, please review the following forms and documents:

Back