Presley Memorial Building
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Breaking ground on the Brandon Presley Memorial Building at North Delta were committee members (from left) Lisa Heafner (Brandon’s aunt), ND Headmaster John Howell Jr., Rusty Woods (Brandon’s uncle), Preston Lawrence, Booster Club President Brad Greenlee, ND Athletic Director Richard Russo, and Michael Babb, a member of the school’s Board of Directors. Not pictured is committee chairman Bill Burnett. The Panolian photo by John Howell Sr.
ND committee breaks ground for Presley building
Members of a special building committee recently broke ground for the Brandon Presley Memorial Building at North Delta School.
The building will include a memorial to Presley (ND Class of 2002), a U.S. Marine who died while serving in Iraq in December, 2005. The facility will serve the school’s football, baseball, and softball events with restrooms, concessions, cooking space and storage. Several patrons of North Delta School are working to both keep alive the memory of a fallen Marine who was an alumnus of the school and to serve North Delta sporting events with a modern hub that will provide concessions and restroom facilities.
Committee members for the Brandon Presley Memorial Building broke ground on Wednesday, June 13. The building will be positioned on the north end of the football field to serve crowds on hand for football, baseball and girls fast-pitch softball events.
Mike Sanders of Batesville Marble and Granite Works will be donating a granite memorial that will help to preserve Presley’s memory.
Presley, a 2002 graduate of North Delta School, died December 15, 2005, as a result of injuries sustained in Iraq. Presley was on a mission with a convoy of supply trucks when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb near Presley’s truck.
According to information released by the military to the family, Brandon engaged the approaching car bomber from his vehicle’s turret and forced the enemy to have to trigger the bomb earlier than planned, which saved the lives of others in the convoy.
“Brandon exemplified the Biblical model of a life of service, and serving others is one of the main lessons we work to instill in our students,” said North Delta Headmaster John Howell Jr. “We want our students to continue to learn about Brandon and what he stood for when they see his picture and his memorial, which will be positioned in front of this new building.”
A special account has been established at First Security Bank. To contribute a memorial to the fund, simply make check out to Brandon Presley Memorial Fund and send the check to North Delta School, 330 Green Wave Lane, Batesville, MS 38606. Donations are still needed for the full funding of this special project.
