The men and women of the Park Falls area have served, or are currently serving, in the Armed Forces of the United States in defense of freedom and the principles of democracy, and special honor is given to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and were killed in action during the wars and conflicts of the United States. Park Falls is also the birthplace of Old Abe the War Eagle, famed mascot of Company C, 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during America's Civil War. On this site, on August 5, 1995, Wisconsin State Highway 13 was dedicated as the POW/MIA Memorial Highway by authority of Wisconsin Act 396, honoring all prisoners of war, former prisoners of war, and those who are currently or were formerly missing in action in conflicts involving the United States.