A long-planned veterans memorial is finally being built.
Next Generation Veterans, an arm of the Veterans Council of Indian River County that provides services to veterans from recent and current conflicts, held a groundbreaking in Riverside Park on Thanksgiving, and work on the central sculpture is underway in the studio of renowned Vero Beach sculptor Ross Power after years of fundraising.
The sculpture, which will be installed between the Vero Beach Museum of Art and the entrance to Veterans Memorial Island, is tentatively scheduled to be unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event on Veterans Day 2020.
The 44,000-pound concrete sculpture entitled “Words From War” will feature 9-foot-tall T-walls engraved with 48 words such as Pain, Freedom and Valor that were chosen by Power after they were repeatedly used during interviews he conducted with more than two dozen veterans of wars since 1990.
“I don’t think that any of the veterans I interviewed didn’t shed a tear. It was quite moving and life changing,” Power said. “For me, it’s about as close to war as anyone could ever be.”
The T-walls – portable, steel-reinforced concrete blast walls of the type used for protection by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan – will be connected by a large dome and steel sheets that will be riddled with dents caused by bullets from firearms used in war, Power said. The memorial will also include a digital kiosk where visitors can hear interviews with veterans.
Next Generation veterans has raised more than half of the $300,000 cost of the monument and has solid commitments for additional funds, but still needs more donations, said Bruce Cody, the nonprofit’s board chairman.
“This monument will show the veterans of the past 30 years that we appreciate their service and their sacrifice and that we as a community want to give them a place to go and share with their families their experiences,” said Cody, a Marine Corps vet.
Vero Beach Mayor Tony Young, an Army veteran, echoed Cody’s sentiment.
“The monument serves several purposes. It honors the veterans that are alive. It’s also important to honor the veterans that have given their lives in the recent conflicts,” Young said. “It’s also an opportunity to educate folks on the sacrifice men and women make every day.”
Ross said he will donate $150,000 of his commission to the Veterans Council of Indian River County. The funds will be used to provide mental health and social services to local veterans.