Dozens of volunteers helped Road to Victory Military Museum and Victory Forge Military Academy complete over 1900 crosses and stars for 'Operation Take Time to Honor' a Memorial tribute, May 23-26 in Stuart's Memorial Park. People from all over the Treasure Coast including, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Palm Beach counties came to work building and painting the wooden memorials in preparation for the tribute.
The museum invited everyone in the community to be a part of the Treasure Coast's largest tribute and event to honor our local Veterans. Last Memorial Day 224 wooden markers (comprised of crosses and stars) were built and erected, honoring those killed in action during WWII for Memorial Day. Because of the tremendous interest generated by the memorial and the importance of the project to our veteran community 1,925 more will be erected - representing all those killed in action from WWI to present day conflicts who called South East Florida home (from Volusia County in the north to Monroe County in the south.)
"It takes a great deal of effort to construct each memorial marker by hand. That is why we asked the community for help. It was really touching to see all the people who came to help, work together, to build something meaningful. We had one guy who came out on his birthday to help as well as a couple of families." Michael Roberts president of Special Forces Restoration and Construction, Special Forces sponsored the volunteer work weekend.
The tribute, Operation Take Time to Honor at Stuart's Memorial Park will be open to the public from the dedication on Friday May 23 through the closing ceremony on Monday May 26. It is a Memorial weekend tribute to all the fallen soldiers killed in action from WWI to present day who called South East Florida home. Soldiers will be represented from, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Davie and Monroe counties.
When:Setting of the Crosses ~ Tuesday May 20, 9 a.m. until complete
Dedication of Memorial Grounds ~ Friday May 23, 3 p.m.
Memorial Day Services
Monday May 26, 10 a.m.
§ Parade of Veterans starts at the Gazebo on East Ocean Blvd at 10 a.m. and ends at Memorial Park at approximately 11 a.m.
§ Ceremony and dedication at Memorial Park at 11 a.m.
Closing Ceremony ~ Monday May 26, 3 p.m.
For more information call Michael Roberts at 772-215-3470 or Inez Frid at 772-370-4571
inez@iproductions.us