By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2010

PLANT CITY - The Plant City Armed Forces Memorials Foundation has chosen Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, for the next unveiling of veteran memorial bricks at the recently completed park.

The bricks, engraved with the names of local veterans, will be unveiled at an 11:30 a.m. ceremony.

Veterans' Monument Park is located at N. Wheeler and W. Damon streets, two blocks north of the Bruton Memorial Library.

"We want to pay special tribute to our veterans by scheduling events such as the brick unveilings on dates that are especially important to our military history," said Jennifer Closshey, a Memorials Foundation officer. "It was 69 years ago when Pearl Harbor was attacked. President Roosevelt told the nation that Dec. 7, 1941 would be a date that would live in infamy. We want to honor those men and women who fought and died at Pearl Harbor, and all who have served in the armed forces throughout our country's history."

The Veterans' Monument Park was dedicated July 1, funded by individual donations in partnership with the city.

The centerpiece of the park is a 14-foot high bronze sculpture Freedom Rising, which depicts a eagle with outstretched wings atop a six-sided, black granite pedestal. The monument pays tribute to veterans of all five branches of service: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy.

Freedom Rising is permanently stationed on a field of approximately 8,000 red bricks laid in an interlocking pattern. Representing a key part of the project's overall fundraising efforts, the goal is for each brick to be engraved in honor of a veteran. To date, about 500 bricks have been engraved and installed.

The Dec. 7 unveiling will showcase 200 of the most recently purchased bricks.

The engraved bricks can be purchased for a $150 donation.

Order forms are available at the park, Plant City Photo Archives and History Center, 106 S. Evers St., the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers Street, Plant City, Florida 33566.

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