Central Florida Marine Corps Monument
A monument to Marines of the past, present, and future
The monument will honor Marines of the past, present, and future. It will be a place of reflection for Marines, family members, friends, and colleagues, and where the public can become more aware of Marine Corps history.
The Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park is located at 2380 Lake Baldwin Lane, Orlando, FL, near the Orlando Veterans Administration Medical Center. The Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation maintains a perpetual lease on the park property.
The Marine monument will be installed within the park in the proximity of Lake Baldwin.
To date, representatives of 1st and 3rd Marine Division Associations, Florida Mustangs, Marine Corps League Detachment 64, and the USMC Combat Correspondents Association, plus Marines from Direct Support Motor Transport Company A (-) (Rei), 6th Motor Transport Battalion, 4th MLG, have actively participated in the design phase of the Marine Corps monument project.
Representatives of all Central Florida Marine organizations are invited to join the planning committee.
The monument will be a pentagon pillar approximately 8½ feet tall with a base 4 feet in diameter. It will be constructed of green granite with a brass Marine Corps emblem (Eagle, Globe, and Anchor) atop the monument.
Engraved on the granite monument will be the names and dates of every principal Marine Corps engagement since the founding of the Corps, as well as a plaque with the inscription: “Some people work an entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference to the world. But the Marines don’t have that problem.” President Ronald Reagan, September 23, 1983
The monument will be hollow, to allow for a "time capsule" whose contents will be accepted by donation. Suggested content include rocks and/or soil from "hallowed ground" (e.g., sands of Iwo Jima).
The timeline currently underway has the Marine monument being installed at the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park in November 2009.*
*Update: The dedication will not take place in November 2009. Fundraising is still required before monument construction and dedication. Please check back periodically for the current status of the monument.
No public funds will be used to build the memorial. It will be entirely self-funded with donations of money, materials and time from Marines, family members, friends and colleagues, businesses and organizations throughout Central Florida. Donations is excess will be redistributed to the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation.
Three formal bids will be solicited for the construction and installation of the monument.
Please join in our efforts through donations by individuals and/or organizations.
Donations are being held in a reserved account by the Central Florida Marine Corps Foundation, and can be sent to:
CFMCF (Attn: Monument)
P.O. Box 781754
Orlando, FL 32878-1754
Contact:
Ed Coyl, at ecoyl@anc8a.com