Granite memorial honors military families

People look on after the Family Monument was unveiled at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park in Ocala, Fla. on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. Team Cone donated $141,000 to the Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park Foundation last year for the monument which was made by Johnson Granite Supply and was then shiiped to Ocala and installed. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

A monument titled “Family,” which evokes the joy of a service member returning home to loved ones after time away, was unveiled at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park on Nov. 10.

The artwork encompasses an inspirational jet-black granite monument and adjacent life-size freestanding bronze sculpture of a man in a military uniform hugging and lifting a woman off the ground and out of her shoes, which remain on the base of the monument, as a young girl contentedly hugs the man’s leg.

Tripp Johnson, CEO of Johnson Granite Supply in Kansas City, Missouri, stated in an email message that his company had made a similar monument for the American Veterans Park in West Point, Nebraska, and that it “highlights the importance of family in each action we have and the challenges that war poses on all family members.”

Johnson described the nearly 8-foot-tall and over 5-foot-wide granite monument as having an inspirational and prayer message on the front and messages on the opposite side from letters written by soldiers away from home and trying “to stay connected” while serving. A few feet away from the monument is the sculpture depicting the reuniting family.

“The front of the memorial features a custom bronze piece called ‘Coming Home,’ which was sculpted in bronze and created in Colorado,” Johnson wrote.

Johnson also wrote of war not being “glamorous” but said the family was joined together in a “celebration.”

Host Todd Belknap with Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans welcomed guests to the unveiling event and said the monument has been “a long time coming.”

Vietnam War veteran Scott Henry was among the many veterans and guests who came to witness the unveiling on the eve of Veterans Day. He said the monument “means everything” and represents the “dream” of all who serve in the military.

“When I came home (to Oshkosh, Wisconsin) from Vietnam, I had a wife and an 18-month-old girl. My wife was pregnant when I left (for Vietnam),” Henry said.

The origination of the monument was the result of a collaboration among Johnson, Friends of Marion County’s Veterans Park Foundation Chairman Ron Oppliger and local officials.

Team Cone donated $141,000 for the project in November of 2023. Doug Cone III, director of community engagement and charitable donations, said during the unveiling that the monument is dedicated to “the importance of the family unit.”

Cone said his family and company are “huge into veterans and first responders.” He said the monument was “beautiful” and the statutes were “vivid (with) expressive faces.”

Warren Buck, 63, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said the monument has “very special meaning.” Buck served in Beirut, Lebanon.

Katherine Henderson served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era and said she could relate to the monument. Henderson said she joined the Army at 18 and “left home for the first time.” She understood the “same sentiment” expressed by the couple depicted in the monument.

Twenty-year U.S. Navy veteran Ron Carignan pointed out that the service member’s uniform in the sculpture was non-specific as to any specific branch of service.

An honored guest at the unveiling was Korean War veteran Gene Tomaszewski and his wife, Sharon.

Myles McConico of Ocala said the monument reminded him of ceremonies and embraces following his Army service and “honors the monumental moments.”

Belknap thanked Mike Boyle Construction, R.M. Thompson, Ag Wave Solutions, Del Zotto Products (concrete), David Brady Construction and Joey Amato with Marion County Parks and Recreation for their contributions to the monument project.

Guests at the unveiling included State Representative Ryan Chamberlain and Marion County Commissioners Michelle Stone and Craig Curry.

Jeffrey Askew, director of the Marion County Veterans Service Office, and who oversees the park, was recognized for his many years of dedicated services to local veterans.

Members of the local chapter of Blue Star Mothers, who have children serving or have served in the military, were recognized at the unveiling, including Joan O’ Hara (son, Ryan, Army), Debbie O’Rourke (son, Liam, Army), Debbie Ceres (veteran, daughter, Crissy Fratella) and Gail Corley (veteran sons, Alan, and Brian, deceased).

Member Audrey Dewey (son, Jim Dewey, veteran) provided honorary pins to 15 Vietnam War veterans during a car show held adjacent to the park, which Blue Star Mothers of Ocala President Anne Parker said raised an estimated $5,000 to benefit the chapter and the Friends of Marion County’s Veterans Park Foundation.

Ocala City Councilman and Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, Jim Hilty Sr., also was at the unveiling.

“I can relate (to the monument) having served in Southeast Asia,” he said.

To learn more, go to marionfl.org/agencies-departments/departments-facilities-offices/veterans-services and marionvetpark.com