Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park

Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park was constructed in 1973 on the former site of the the historically black Morehead community

Lakeland communications Department

November 18, 2024

The Story of Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park

Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park was constructed in 1973 on the former site of the historically black Morehead community. Overlooking beautiful Lake Buelah, the park is dedicated to Veterans and First Responders, honoring their sacrifices in defending this country and protecting the community.

Veteran’s monuments and memorials pay tribute to those men and women who served in America’s conflicts. The Law Enforcement and Fire Fighter/Fire Rescue honor the memories of Polk County citizens who lost their lives in the line of duty. The beautiful bicentennial Rose Garden stands at the northern end of the park, sowed in 1976 to celebrate our nation’s 200th birthday.

This park fulfills the vision of creating a destination park for education and reflective tributes while commemorating America’s long journey in defending freedom.

Lakeland Veterans Park

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Bicentennial Rose Garden

A few years after the park was built the Lakeland Women’s Club funded the building of the Bicentennial Rose Garden to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The City of Lakeland has honored that initiative by ensuring the garden thrives. Under the supervision of Bill Koen, the city’s horticulturist, the garden has become one of the most admired rose gardens in the Southeastern United States.

Veterans Memorial

The signature monument in the park is the Veterans Memorial, honoring all Polk County men and women who have served in the country’s Armed Forces. Surrounding the obelisk are monuments to four of America’s conflicts in the 20th century. Americans are honored who served in World War I, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Annual Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremonies, hosted by the Polk County Veterans Council, in conjunction with other organizations, are conducted at this monument.

Law Enforcement Memorial

This somber plaza on the park’s west side is dedicated to those Polk County Law Enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated in 1990, there has unfortunately been at least one plaque placed every year since. During May a stirring ceremony is conducted honoring those whose names are listed on the plaques.

Fire Fighter/Fire Rescue Memorial

Polk County Fire Fighters and Fire Rescue Personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty are remembered in the monument. Periodic ceremonies are conducted at this memorial highlighted by the ringing of Firefighter’s Bell is mounted in the center. During May bells will ring from coast to coast as a grateful nation pauses, to honor those firefighters who died in the line of duty . Fire departments and their places of worship join the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters, part of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

Military Order of the Purple Heart Memorial

In 2013, the Polk County Veterans Service Office and Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 535, led the effort to make Polk County the first “Purple Heart County” in the state of Florida. . The original monument was replaced in 2019 by the Patriot Members of the Military order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 535, Lakeland Fl. This , elegant monument is a tribute to those who received this most sacred decoration by being killed or wounded in combat action. . The Purple Heart was created by General George Washington in 1782, issued as the Badge of Merit. In 1931 General Douglas MacArthur reopened work on a new design, involving the Washington Commission of Fine Arts. Elizabeth Will, an Army heraldic specialist in the Office of Quartermaster General, was named to redesign the newly revived medal, which became known as the Purple Heart. This Medal was issued on the bicentennial of Washington’s 200th birthday. This new designed was issued on the 200th Anniversary of General George Washington’s Birth.

World War II Plaza

Lakeland is particularly proud of embracing a vision of recognizing World War II’s “Greatest Generation”. Thanks in large part to a donation by Wanda Felton, a former resident of Lakeland. Wanda was the spouse of a Navy Flight Surgeon Officer, stationed at Pearl Harbor, and both experienced the attack on December 7, 1941. Wanda and her family were present at the dedication on Pearl Harbor Day 2017. Just days before her 100th birthday. Sadly we lost Wanda a few months later, but thanks to her generosity, the memory of that fateful day will live forever in this park. The plaza leads to a circular monument with a bronze image telling the story of the Pearl Harbor attack. Surrounding the Pearl Harbor centerpiece are monuments paying tribute to POWs, Women who served, African Americans and finally, to that generation who saved democracy.

Global War on Terror Monument

The Polk County Veterans Council is particularly proud of this project because it was initiated by veterans and families of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans. Designed by the Lakeland architect firm of Furr, Wegman, the base of the monument represents an overhead image of the Pentagon. In the center of the base is the Soldier’s Cross, a symbolic tribute to those who have died in battle. Framing the rear of the monument is a representation of the Word Trade Center Twin Towers. As one gazes at the Twin Towers, the field behind the monument represents the crash site in Shanksville, PA.

Tribute To Veterans Organizations

Erected in 2009 this monument recognizes the Polk County organizations that support Veterans and their families. Included on the Monument are the American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS) , Military Association of Officers (MOAA) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Military Society of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and Others. Over 60,000 Veterans reside in the county and this monument stands In heartfelt gratitude for their tireless advocacy of those who served our country.

Honor

The Polk County Veterans Council partnered with Platform Art, and area youth, to initiate a public art installation in Veterans Park in Lakeland. “Honor”, “Sacrifice” and “Service” are themes selected as a tribute to veterans, police, firefighters, and emergency responders, installed over the three-year public art program. The sculpture project links the community and youth to veterans and first responders, recognizing their honorable service. Service - Jenna Huffman • Honor - Maria Vasquez • Sacrifice - Cierra Grenier

Sacrifice

Service

C-23 Sherpa Plane Crash Memorial

On March 3, 2001 a military transport plane flying from Florida to Virginia descended through rainy weather and crashed in a freshly plowed field in Unadilla, Georgia, a central Georgia farming community, killing all 21 people aboard. The plane was a C-23 Sherpa assigned to the 171st Aviation Battalion of the Army Air National Guard in Lakeland, Fla., and had started its flight at HurlburtField,nearFortWaltonBeach,Fla.Itwasheaded toOceana Naval Air Station, Va., carrying three Army crew members and 18 members of the Virginia Air National Guard. This memorial is a loving tribute to these servicemen who gave their lives on that fateful day.

Polk County Confederate Soldier Monument

This handsome monument was erected in 1910 in Munn Park in Lakeland by the Lakeland Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It was dedicated on June 3, 1910, with a large contingent of the Third Brigade of Confederate Veterans present to hear a speech by Attorney-General and Lakeland resident Park M. Trammel. The monument was relocated to Veteran’s Memorial Park in 2019. The marble monument, which stands 26 feet tall, features a smartly uniformed Confederate private soldier, braced against a stump. His socks are bloused around his pants, he sports a wide brimmed hat, an Enfield bayonet and cartridge box, and a haversack. His belt is fastened around his shell jacket with a square buckle, and the soldier has a moustache and goatee. He is standing at parade rest, with hands on his Enfield rifle-musket, facing East at Parade Rest

Friends of Freedom Spanish American War Monument

This monument pays tribute to the five Army units that camped in Lakeland during the summer of 1898 as they prepared for deployment from Tampa to conduct operations in Cuba. The famed 10th U.S. Cavalry “Buffalo Soldiers” was one of the units and encamped along the shores of Lake Wire. During the dedication in November 2023, Lakeland Mayor Mutz eloquently articulated the importance of the monument to this community: “This memorial, Lakeland-based, is a bridge, a bridge to the old Moorehead community in which we have this park. This is an opportunity to take Buffalo Soldiers, who served in the Spanish-American War and were based here for a short period, and tie it to the missing … monument that’s here,” Mutz said. “So this to me, this is a deeply wonderful opportunity for us to recognize not only the celebration of veterans who have given their lives, but the bridging within our community of what has been missing links that get pulled together.”