The National Veterans Freedom Park
Iconic Art — Light of Freedom Spire

How do we learn the history of our Freedom?

The veterans of Freedom, our U.S. Veterans, have brought the light of Freedom to those who have lived in darkness for over 230 years. They have traveled to all four corners of the world, they have touched the stars and dived to the bottom of our deepest oceans, guided by those immortal words, "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights...." Freedom is light and the veteran has been the carrier and supporter of that light throughout our history. We must never forget that through the centuries, the Light of Freedom has been born on the backs of men and women selflessly serving our nation, on the land, on the sea and in the air. Their service, their dignity, their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of their families, has allowed us to continue living our lives wrapped in those freedoms they so honored and served.

Freedom is universal; Freedom touches all that surrounds us and around that circle have walked the men and women who have stood their posts and given their lives to ensure that the light of Freedom is never extinguished. Nothing could be more fitting than the creation of a symbol, a monument, which honors and commemorates our veterans, the freedoms they served and educates everyone who contemplates this message. Created by noted iconist Howard Meehan, himself a veteran, the monument brings together the elements of our universe under a free sky and signals the passage of our time pointing to those notable and honorable sacrifices and epochs lived by the veterans of our past, present and future.

The monument focuses the Light of Freedom on our duty to know and pass on to future generations that Freedom is not free, that the price of Freedom is the highest price, and for every veteran who has paid that price, their loved ones have born an equal share, all in the hope that our future will not exact that same price from our descendents. The spire, "The Light of Freedom," is supported by five earthen berms representing the five uniformed branches: Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force. Notably, the Merchant Marine story is also featured within the Navy and Coast Guard features.