Hundreds gather for Newberry Veterans Memorial ribbon-cutting ceremony

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN

NEWBERRY, Fla. – At 9:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 26, hundreds of Newberry residents and visitors gathered at Lois Forte Park for the official unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the long-awaited Newberry Veterans Memorial. 

Mayor Tim Marden said he was “blown away” by the attendance numbers, and he noted that the park will soon be renamed Veterans Memorial Park. Marden said, “We come together to honor those veterans who chose us over themselves… It is our duty to ensure their sacrifice is not in vain.” 

Incoming City Manager Jordan Marlowe introduced several local officials in attendance, including Sheriff Chad Scott. Newberry’s best-known local musician, Josh Taylor, sang a moving performance of “God Bless the USA.” 

Former State Representative Debbie Boyd gave credit to City Commissioner Mark Clark for suggesting that Newberry build a Veterans Memorial, 2½ years ago. Boyd said several local businesses contributed $341,000 toward the project. Other fundraising efforts included selling t-shirts and inscribed bricks to honor individual veterans, raising the total to $371,000. The Community Foundation of North Central Florida contributed the final $90,000 required to bring the project to completion. Following a suggestion made by Newberry Animal Hospital, a statue was added to honor K9 warriors, Boyd said.

Commissioner Clark listed some of the fallen soldiers for whom bricks had been purchased by their loved ones. 

The Oak View Middle School Symphonic Band and the Newberry High School Band played selections of the official songs of each of the armed forces. Marlowe noted, “They are still working on including the Space Force.”

Marlowe said they had challenge coins to hand out to all veterans in attendance, and volunteers passed out the honorary coins.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, and then everyone was free to explore all parts of the memorial. 

The honorary bricks are located east of the main structure in an area that includes flags representing all branches of the military. Marlowe noted that the flags were flying at half-staff that morning to honor the fallen heroes.