Hundreds attend statewide Iraq and Afghanistan wars memorial unveiling in Port St. Lucie

PORT ST. LUCIE — The first monument in the state to honor by name each Floridian lost in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is now open for public viewing.

The monument is made from black granite from India, the same material used for the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and arrived in Port St. Lucie two weeks ago.

More than 400 people gathered at Veterans Memorial Park Saturday to officially unveil the monument.

The number of attendees — which included military veterans, uniformed active-duty soldiers and families — was similar to the number of names on the monument: 349, each a Florida resident who died in the conflicts.

"To stand at the podium and look out, it was very overwhelming for me to see the number of veterans that were here," David Pickett, city councilman and veteran of both wars, said after the ceremony.

For the last two years, Pickett has spearheaded the monument, and more recently the unveiling ceremony, for the city. However, the project did not originate with the city. The Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Foundation chose Port St. Lucie out of all the communities in Florida.

The foundation's founder, Steve Udovich, said when he first came to Veterans Memorial Park he met one of the city's parks and recreation staff, who assured Udovich if the monument came to Port St. Lucie, he would personally ensure it was maintained. That, combined with the other monuments in the park and the city being "behind it, like 110%," made Udovich start to think as he drove home to Dunedin.

"I think I've found our location," Udovich recalled thinking. "And I did find our location, and this is it."

The foundation raised $100,000 for the project, which cost about $76,000. The rest, Udovich said, was donated to American Gold Star Mothers Incorporated, a group representing mothers who have lost their sons during military service.

The monument was unveiled by Gold Star mothers Kim Allison and Michele Carey, two Florida residents who lost their sons, Zack Shannon and Barton Humlhanz, respectively, in the conflicts.

Among the speakers at the ceremony were two retired generals. Retired U.S. Army Major General Rodney Fogg said he is impressed by the park and its newest monument.

"You should be very proud of living here and all the support that you provide to our veterans," Fogg told the audience.

Fogg went on to address the veterans of the two wars, emphasizing the sacrifice of those whose names are inscribed on the monument was worth it, despite what may have transpired in Iraq and Afghanistan since.

"Your selfless service is not washed away by history," Fogg said.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General James Hartsell, nicknamed "Hammer," was also in attendance. Hartsell is executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, serving in the cabinet of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who Hartsell reminded the crowd is a veteran.

"We're blessed to have a veteran governor," Hartsell said.

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While serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hartsell got to know several soldiers. As he read the names on the monument, Hartsell said he recognized some of them. He said he witnessed some of their deaths. For others, he saluted their casket before it was sent home.

"I did not know they were Florida citizens," Hartsell said. "Now, I do."

That is one of the many reasons why the monument is important, Hartsell said.

Veterans Memorial Park, at 2100 S.E. Veterans Memorial Pkwy., includes monuments honoring each of the nation's branches of service, as well as wars from the Revolutionary War to modern day.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com and 504-331-0516.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: First monument honoring Floridians who died in Afghanistan, Iraq wars open