Plant City veterans memorial taking shape

The veterans monument is coming together, brick by brick, in both a figurative and literal sense.

A dedication of the park and unveiling of the memorial sculpture by Sarasota artist Duane Scott is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 1.

In the meantime work continues on the park, a project combining public and private funds, which had its groundbreaking May 4, 2009. Organizers estimate the cost of the project, counting donated goods and services, comes to about $1 million, including about $250,000 from the city and more than $320,000 from corporate and private donations for naming rights.

The latest work includes bricks that have been engraved with the names of veterans as part of a fundraiser for the park, at Courier Field at Wheeler and Herring streets.
The bricks are being artfully laid in an interlocking pattern.

"The engraved brick are a part of our fundraising effort, but they are more meaningful as a way of honoring our veterans," said Jennifer Closshey, the chairwoman of the Plant City Armed Forces Memorials Foundation "Each brick is placed in memory or in honor of a man or woman who has served in the Armed Forces. The engraving is beautifully done and will add a lot to the patriotic spirit of the park."

The paver bricks are being installed by Cecil Murray, owner of Murray Engravings of Thonotosassa.

Ninety bricks were set on April 20, when some of the committee members on hand. Another 90 were scheduled to be set on April 27. The remaining bricks already sold, and those to be sold will be set by Murray before the July 1 dedication.

The engraved bricks are among about 8,000 bricks that will make up the gathering area that will surround the sculpture. An individual brick can be purchased for engraving for $150. An order form to purchase engraved bricks can be found at the park's Web site, www.veteransmonument.com. The site also includes facts, history and naming rights opportunities in the park.

Some of the names of veterans already engraved on the bricks include Miriam Walden Pledge, Robert Kirkland Jr., John C. Heth, J.N. Wiggins, Arthur Boring, Francis Marion Pou, Hal Brewer, Art Gutowski, William Carr and Don Walden.

A lot of work has been done since last year's groundbreaking.

Hundreds of volunteers have put in time preparing the grounds. David Butcher provided site design and engineering free of charge. The Plant City Garden Club has donated and planted flowers, shrubs and trees that will give the park a welcoming touch of color and greenery that will surround the gathering area, gazebo and monument. The Florida Strawberry Festival has donated $10,000 for part of the cost to build a sidewalk that connects the areas of the park to the gathering area where the monument will stand.

Showalter Construction is the contractor.

The centerpiece of the park will be Freedom Rising, a 14-foot granite and bronze monument.

"The veterans monument and park will be a fitting and lasting tribute that speaks to the patriotism and gratitude felt by the citizens of Plant City for the sacrifices paid in our behalf by all the veterans who served our country," Closshey said.