Okaloosa, Baldwin counties exchanging bells

FOLEY, Ala. (WALA) - BELL SWAP IN BALDWIN COUNTY

For the Eiland family it was time to say an emotional goodbye. Patsi Eiland Heptinstall, was in tears as the bell from the USS Okaloosa was removed from a Foley memorial.

“She’s part of our life because we have taken such good care of her for so long and she’s going home,” she said.

The Eiland family has been the caretakers of the bell off the USS Okaloosa for decades. On the plaque is the name of their brother, Grady Eiland, who died in Vietnam.

“It doesn’t matter who you are. You’ve got to thank a veteran for their service to this country otherwise we could not be gathered here today.” Betty Eiland Morris said to the crowd.

The bell memorial has been around for nearly 40 years in one form or another in Baldwin County.

The last 30 years, the bell has been at different spots around the courthouse in Foley.

In a Wednesday morning ceremony, the USS Okaloosa Bell was replaced with a bell from the USS Peterson. Congressmen Jo Bonner and Jeff Miller did the honors. Now, the Okaloosa Bell is headed for a new home in its namesake county at Northwest Florida Regional Airport..

USS OKALOOSA VETERAN AT CEREMONY

Wally Helmstadter served on the USS Okaloosa, a transport ship, as it marched back and forth across the Pacific in World War II.

“We took first occupation troops into China. That was quite an experience. The Japs hadn’t officially surrendered,” Helmstadter said.

The ceremony brought back memories of his service.

“Some of them good, a lot of them bad, but more good than bad,” Helmstadter said.

USS PETERSON’S BELL MOUNTED TO MEMORIAL

After the exchange ceremony, the bell from the USS Peterson was bolted in.

The Peterson was a destroyer built in Pascagoula that conducted numerous missions until it was decommissioned in 2002 and sunk in weapons training in 2004.

DEDICATION IN OKALOOSA IN APRIL

There will be a dedication for the Okaloosa bell's new memorial at the Northwest Florida Airport in April.