Scottsboro in Jackson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Monument to the Fallen Soldier Battlefield Cross

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, March 14, 2025

1. Monument to the Fallen Soldier Battlefield Cross Marker

Inscription. The recognition of the Fallen Soldier began during the Civil War in the 1860s as a means to identify the battlefield's location of a soldier killed in combat. The practice has evolved in later wars as a sign of remembrance and respect for the Fallen Soldier.

The steel helmet is symbolic that the battle is over for the Fallen Soldier. The inverted rifle with the bayonet in the ground signifies that the soldier died in battle, fighting to the end. The boots are worn and dirty and carried the soldier through the battle and now represent the final march of the soldier's last battle. The identification tags (dog tags) establish the identity of the brave soldier, whose name sacrifice will never be forgotten.

The Battlefield Cross is a symbol that recognizes and honors the Fallen Soldier and signifies a time for prayer and an unforgettable reminder that FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

Bronze plaques around the outside border of the circle honor soldiers from Jackson County killed in combat for our freedoms. (Marker Number M18.)

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.

Location. 34° 39.173′ N, 86° 2.531′ W. Memorial is in Scottsboro, Alabama, in Jackson County. It can be reached from the intersection of Heroes Drive and Jefferson Drive, on the right when traveling west. Located in Veterans Memorial Park of Jackson County. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1616 Heroes Dr, Scottsboro AL 35768, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and

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the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: United States Marine Corps (here, next to this marker); United States Army (here, next to this marker); Why has America Gone to War? (here, next to this marker); Warrant Officer (here, next to this marker); Commissioned Military Officers (here, next to this marker); War of 1812 (here, next to this marker); Mexican-American War (here, next to this marker); United States Coast Guard (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scottsboro.

Regarding Monument to the Fallen Soldier Battlefield Cross. M18 is one of the M1-M18 markers devoted to Military Service and other Military Information

Also see . . . Battlefield Cross. The Battlefield Cross, alternatively referred to as the Fallen Soldier Battlefield Cross, Soldier's Cross, or just Battle Cross, is a symbolic replacement of a cross, or memorial

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, March 14, 2025

2. Monument to the Fallen Soldier Battlefield Cross Marker

marker appropriate to an individual service-member's religion, on the battlefield or at the base camp for a soldier who has been killed. It is made up of the soldier's rifle stuck into the ground or the soldier's boots, with a helmet on top. Dog tags are sometimes placed on the rifle, and the boots of the dead soldier can be placed next to the rifle. The purpose is to show honor and respect for the dead at the battle site. The practice started during World War I, as a sign of respect for those that gave their lives in combat during wartime.[1] Today, it is a means of showing respect for the dead amongst the still-living troop members. It is commonly seen in the field or base camp after a battle, especially among American troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. While it is used less today as a means of identification, it still serves as a method of mourning among the living, as attending the funeral is not always possible for soldiers still in combat. (Submitted on March 17, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, March 14, 2025

3. Monument to the Fallen Soldier Battlefield Cross Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 378 times since then and 100 times this year. Last updated on March 20, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 17, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.