Hero’s Monument

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CITY OF LONGWOOD HERO’S MONUMENT

There is a Hero’s Monument at the corner of West Church Avenue and West Milwee Street.  The monument consists of three nine-foot pillars of black granite.  

The first pillar has seven bronze emblems; one for each branch of the military, one for law enforcement, and one for fire and rescue.  This monument honors all Americans who served their country past and present for the protection of our inalienable rights.

The second pillar is a shadow piece with two up lights on either side to depict the absence of the World Trade Center.  The monument has an inscription honoring those Americans that lost their lives at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  There is also an actual engraved piece of steel from the World Trade Center.

The third pillar honors all Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  The monument’s inscription reads as follows: “DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVED THIS NATION AND WHOSE SACRIFICE SUSTAINS AMERICA’S ENDURING SPIRIT OF FREEDOM.”

All three pillars are centered in a 15-foot-wide seating wall in a pentagon shape honoring those Americans that lost their lives at the Pentagon and United Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.

Background

The City of Longwood was presented with a commemorative piece of the World Trade Center at the March 7, 2005 City Commission meeting.  Jim Bomford, Legislative Representative of the 10-13 Association of American, New York Police Department, Brooklyn, and Staten Island attended the meeting and presented Mayor Bundy and Commissioners Maingot, Holt, Sackett, and Anderson with a piece of the World Trade Center.  John Pedalino, Past President of the Fire Department New York Retiree’s Central Florida Division also attended the meeting.  At this meeting Mayor Bundy declared September 11th as Hero’s Day in Longwood, he affirmed and moved forward to have the memorial in place by September 11th. 

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The Commission ultimately selected to place the memorial on the corner of the Police Department's property at West Church Avenue and West Milwee Street. They also approved verbiage for the inscription which they felt covered all who served and kept the spirit of freedom alive, also to bring attention to the fact the city was honored with this artifact and it is in the memory of all the victims.  "Dedicated to those who served this nation and whose sacrifice sustains the enduring spirit of freedom. This piece of the World Trade Center was presented to the City of Longwood in memory of the victims of September 11, 2001."

The City of Longwood held a Monument Dedication Ceremony and Parade on Saturday, September 10, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. at the Longwood Police Department.