ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A new military statue was dedicated on Friday, Jan. 17, in St. Augustine to honor local veterans.
The hand-crafted statue, depicting a pair of military boots, a helmet, and a weapon, was gifted to the residents of Patriot Place, a housing community for at-risk and homeless veterans.
Recommended Videos
The statue was a collaborative gift from MountainStar Partners, St. Johns Housing Partnership, and St. Johns County, with an artist and partner donating the piece to commemorate the veterans' service. The dedication ceremony highlighted the ongoing community efforts to support local veterans.
Related: ‘Patriot Place’ to offer affordable housing for at-risk veterans in St. Augustine
Patriot Place, located at 79 Masters Drive, consists of six low-income housing units designed to serve former military members in need. The project, which opened in September 2023, was spearheaded by MountainStar Partners, St. Johns Housing Partnership, and several other organizations. Their shared goal was to provide safe, affordable housing for underserved veterans in the area.
The housing units are part of Care Connect+, a social health program operated by UF Health. Care Connect+ links residents to a range of support services, including food assistance, counseling, transportation, workplace readiness programs, and access to safe housing.
Several community leaders attended the dedication, including MountainStar CEO Chris Lazarra, St. Johns Housing Partnership Executive Director Bill Lazar, St. Johns County Continuum of Care Housing Lead Shastan Johnson, UF Health Chief of Staff Kevin Sweeny, St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick, and City Commissioner Cynthia Garris.
The collaborative effort behind Patriot Place underscores the community’s commitment to supporting local veterans and addressing housing insecurity among at-risk populations.
“Housing is something many people in our area take for granted. The same can be said about living in a peaceful nation and enjoying its freedoms. We can too easily take this peace for granted,” said Lazzara. “But our veterans, our heroes, are the ones who have given of themselves to ensure our nation is safe and secure. That’s why we came together to create Patriot Place. We wanted to give our veterans the opportunity to experience the safety and security of living in their own homes. And today, we further extend the acknowledgment of our veterans in a special way with the dedication of this statue in their honor.”
Click here to learn more about Patriot Place in St. Augustine.