Page 12 - April 2015 Life In Naples Magazine

STATETOHFECITY
FREEDOM MEMORIAL – LET’S GET IT FINISHED

MAYOR JOHN SOREY S ERVICE: “The action of helping or doing work for someone.”That addition of $100,000 from the Naples City
is what more than three thousand people were doing on September Council, we are very close to matching the
11, 2001. Some lost limbs, many lost their lives and we all lost a $600,000. Each gift is critically important
piece of innocence. as it represents a commitment to our values,
our beliefs and our heritage.
When we think about that day, most of us can say we knew someone
directly or indirectly in New York City, Washington D.C. or Pennsylvania. The momentum has changed. You can
feel the excitement. Todd Gates has agreed
Our nation was built and is today sustained by Patriots who act to be the general contractor at no cost to
when necessary. the project and use his experience to value
engineer the project. The construction
Southwest Florida community leaders with process is being developed with the County
a track record of getting things done took on staff to insure no issues occur. The granite
the task of completing the unfinished Freedom will be ordered soon and will take 8-12
Memorial at the Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park. weeks for delivery and then construction
The Memorial is located on Golden Gate will begin in earnest. Completion is
Parkway just east of Goodlette Frank Road. anticipated early next year.

Planning for this Memorial began in You can still be a part of this project.
2004 as an initiative of the Board of County Send your contribution of any size to
Commissioners, led by Commissioner Fred Freedom Memorial Foundation, 6017 Pine
Coyle. It grew to include County officials, local Ridge Road, Suite 249, Naples, FL 34119.
law enforcement agencies, Naples’ City Council Let’s get this Freedom Memorial finished.
and area fire departments.
The Memorial will stand as a permanent tribute to the members of our If you have any ideas, suggestions, or
armed forces and their families, and to the first responders and civilians comments, please call me at 239.248.1550
who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and or email me at mayor@naplesgov.com.
those that followed.
After a rigorous screening process,the Board of County Commissioners
selected the design of Gerald A. Ladue depicted above as an appropriate
visual representation of our community’s concept of American freedom
and values. The shape is of an unfurled American flag made of granite.
It sits on a representation of the United States of America, has the
seal of each state surrounding the flag and the walkway is in the shape of
The Pentagon. The bricks of the walkway are inscribed with names and
tributes to loved ones who served our country.
Beginning on October 1, 2014 efforts begin in earnest to raise the
funds to complete the work that had begun in March of 2009. Thanks to
all who made contributions, especially Jay and Patty Baker who made an
initial lead matching gift and a second lead gift at the Gala. We greatly
appreciate all the volunteers and contributors of any amount as it takes
a team to make anything happen. A special thanks to the Board of County
Commissioners led by Commissioner Hiller who pledged $600,000 as
a matching grant for all dollars raised since October 1, 2014. With the

12 Life in Naples | April 2015