Florence Veterans Park

Florence Veterans Park Sign
The Florence Veterans Park was dedicated in November 11, 2008

The Aviator
A monument to the U.S. Army Air Corps features a pilot searching for the north star, key to navigating over long-distance flights.

U.S. Army Monument
Dedicated November 11, 2016, to the men and women of the US Army. This monument’s artistry depicts the story of the Army since 1900.
The black Indian granite was designed by Bran Oswalt of Brown Memorials and etched by artist Dan Garrison.
In 2016, Monument Builders of North America awarded it First Place as ‘best hand etched’ monument and the American Institute of Commemorative Art awarded it Second Place as the best new monument in a public park.

Purple Heart Monument
The Purple Heart is a US military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the US military. With its forerunner the Badge of Military Merit originated by General George Washington, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award given to US military members.
“Being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces…“

Gold Star Families Monument
Dedicated Veterans Day, 2019, this beautiful addition to the park pays tribute to Gold Star Families, those who lost a loved one who was serving in uniform.
Great assistance was provided by the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation which has promoted paying tribute to GS Families throughout the nation.

Wall of Honor
The Wall of Honor is dedicated to Honorably Discharged Veterans with Pee Dee area connections.
As of Veterans Day 2020, 792 plaques have been placed on the Wall of Honor.
Names represent all of our nation’s conflicts, wars, the Cold War, and times of peace, from the Mexican Expedition in 1916, through today’s Global War on Terrorism.

Flags Amphitheater
An amphitheater is surrounded by US, SC, POW/MIA flags and the flags of the USA, USMC, USN, USAF, USCG, and Merchant Marine.

U.S. Navy Monument
Dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2014, to the men and women of the US Navy.
The Ship’s Bell is from the World War I Dreadnought Battleship USS South Carolina.
During WWI, the ship patrolled the East Coast of the United States from Boston to Guantanamo, Cuba. It later performed convoy escort in the North Atlantic.
The bell was made possible by a donation from the US Navy and Patriot’s Point, Mount Pleasant, SC.

Armed Forces Memorial
It’s a three-pillar center obelisk, co-designed by Brown Memorials of Florence and local sculptor Alex Palkovich
The 30-foot-tall monument features an American Bald Eagle, designed and sculpted in bronze by Alex Palkovich
Bronze medallions representing all six branches of the US military complete the memorial.

Desert Storm Monument
This monument originally was located at the former Florence County Museum on Spruce Street.
The American Institute of Commemorative Art awarded the prestigious Eugene H. Faehnle Award to Brown Memorials for the Desert Storm Monument as the top new monument for North America.
It was donated to the park and was one of the monuments installed prior to the park’s dedication ceremony.

U.S. Air Force Monument
Dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2015, to the men and women of the US Air Force.
Designed by memorialist
Bran Oswalt and donated to the Veterans Park and erected by Brown Memorials, Florence, SC.
Officiating at the dedication was retired USAF General HT Johnson, one of only three South Carolinians to attain the rank of 4-star general.
The AICA named this the top new monument in a public park for 2015.

U.S. Coast Guard Monument
Dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2014, to the men and women of the US Coast Guard.
The 2,200-pound anchor is from the Coast Guard Cutter Comanche that performed convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic during World War II.
The Comanche was involved in the rescue of over 200 soldiers and sailors following the U-boat attack on the USTS Dorchester in February 1943.

U.S. Marine Corp Monument
Dedicated May 1, 2010, to the men and women of the US Marine Corps.
The monument was donated to the Veterans Park by the Julian D. Dusenbury Detachment #410 of the Florence Marine Corps League.
Florence native Captain Dusenbury was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism in World War II.
“Uncommon valor was a common virtue.” USN Admiral Chester Nimitz, reflecting on incredible sacrifices of Marines on Iwo Jima.

Merchant Marine Monument
Dedicated on Patriot Day, September 11, 2015, to the men and women of the Merchant Marine.
The monument was made possible by donation from John Bacot Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Florence, SC, and the anchors were donated by Patriot’s Point, Mount Pleasant, SC.

POW ★ MIA Monument
Dedicated in 2008 in honor of all American service members deemed Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.
The monument was presented to the Veterans Park by Rolling Thunder, Chapter 4, Florence, SC.
In 2016, Rolling Thunder donated the POW-MIA Chair of Honor.

Home Safe Monument
Dedicated November 2011 to members of the Armed Forces who did their duty and returned home safely and their family members who also serve.
Sculpted by Alex Palkovich and made possible by donations.
The dog, Lady, a Boykin Spaniel, was added on November 11, 2015.

WWI Monument
Rededicated Veterans Day 2016.
Originally dedicated in 1928 and stood in front of the old library on Irby Street. Later moved to the Fred H. Sexton American Legion Post #1 on Palmetto Street.
Donated to the park by the American Legion in 2016.
2LT Fred H. Sexton from Florence earned the Distinguished Service Cross and was KIA in WWI.

Vietnam War Monument
The monument to our Vietnam Veterans was dedicated on Saturday, November 11, 2017.
The black Indian granite stone was designed by Bran Oswalt of Brown Memorials and etched by artist Dan Garrison.
Monument Builders of North America awarded it Second Place as ‘best hand etched’ monument in North America for 2016.

Korean War Monument
The Korean War Monument was dedicated on November 11, 2018 and was designed and erected by Blackmon Memorial Enterprises of Darlington.
It has bronze reliefs embedded in granite that feature realistic scenes of the USN and USMC on one side and the USA and USAF on the other.

U.S.S. Arizona Monument
The centerpiece of the USS Arizona Memorial is a 277 pound “relic” from the bulwark of the battleship sunk December 7, 1941. The attack killed 1,177 Sailors and Marines. The monument is in an area of the park that will be home to the planned World War II monument.

Oath of Enlistment Monument
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

WWII Monument
The World War II monument, unveiled at Florence’s annual Veterans Day Observance in the park in 2022, was awarded top honors at the end of 2023.
Made possible by the generosity of the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation, the monument is composed of about 40 pieces of stone and stands more than 14 feet tall. It features a larger-than-life bronze statue of a soldier resting atop a doorstep, holding a pencil and paper as he contemplates the events of the day in a letter to a loved one.
“It was awarded first place in the American Institute of Commemorative Arts’ annual design contest, taking top honors in the public monuments category,” said Bran Oswalt, fifth-generation monument designer at Brown Memorial in Florence.

9/11 Monument
Dedicated on Sept. 11, 2011
Contains a 280-pound limestone block damaged in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Recognizes the heroic first responders, salutes the men and women of the armed forces who have responded since the attacks, and remembers those who died.
Designed by Alex Palkovich and constructed by Brown Memorials and made possible by donations from the public.

Alone with Memories Monument
Dedicated on Sept. 11, 2011
Designed by Alex Palkovich to honor family members who have lost a loved one.
The larger-than-life sculpture dedicated in 2016 is cast in bronze and rests near the Wall of Tears.

Wall of Tears Monument
The Wall of Tears water feature, which is located behind the Alone with Memories monument, was specially designed to accompany the piece, and honors those who mourn loved ones they have lost and the memories they shared.