Highway to honor Manning, Seay

Escambia County's two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Sgt. William Wayne Seay of Brewton, and Corporal Sidney Manning of Flomaton, will have portions of U.S. Highway 31 between Flomaton and Atmore named in their honor following a joint resolution passed by the Alabama Legislature.

Retired Marine Col. Charles Jackson read the resolutions, sponsored by State Rep. Alan Baker and State Sen. Greg Albrittion, during Monday's Memorial Day ceremony on the lawn of the Escambia County Courthouse in Brewton.

According to the resolutions, Seay was born in Brewton on Oct. 24, 1948 and died during combat on Aug. 25, 1968, in TayNinh, Vietnam while serving in the Army. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroism and gallantry in saving the lives of his fellow soldiers.

"Sergeant William Wayne Seay was on a resupply mission with ammunition and supplies when his convoy was ambushed," the resolution reads. "In addition to killing enemy soldiers with his rifle, he twice returned armed enemy grenades to the North Vietnamese position. His heroic actions saved the lives of his fellow soldiers before he was mortally wounded by a snipper's bullet."

Manning was born in Butler County, Ala., on July 17, 1892, and was buried in Flomaton following his death on Dec. 15, 1960.

While serving in the Army during World War I, Manning was presented the Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism.

"In July, 1918, while serving in France, Corporal Manning was severely wounded during close combat, yet managed to take command of the men left of his platoon and gain a foothold on the enemy's position," the resolution reads.

Requested by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7016 in Atmore, the Legislature's resolutions are designed to memorialize the lives and dedicated service of Seay and Manning to the citizens of Alabama and the United States.

The resolution calls for a portion of Highway 31 between Atmore and Flomaton to be named the 'Corporal Sidney Manning Memorial Highway' and another section to be named the 'Sergeant William Wayne Seay Memorial Highway'.

Jackson noted that although the Legislature approved the resolutions to named the highway in honor of Manning and Seay the estimated $8,000 cost to erect historical monuments along the highway will have to be raised by private funds.

People can make donations toward the historical monuments by going to gofundme.com and search medal of honor memorial road signs. For more information, contact Bobby Lanier at 251-294-2071.