DeBary City and Foundation Launch Bricks of Honor Veterans Memorial Program

Veterans, elected officials, and neighbors packed DeBary's Veterans Memorial Park at 76 Dirksen Drive on Feb. 16 to mark the public opening of the "Bricks of Honor, Stories of Valor" Memorial Brick Project, a joint initiative between the City of DeBary and the newly formed DeBary Foundation to permanently honor members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Gold Star families through individually engraved bricks set into the park's plaza.

More than 250 people attended the event, which featured U.S. Rep. Cory Mills as keynote speaker. Among those present were Vice Mayor Butlien, Pastor Storts Dennis, and Michelle Hewitt, who gathered at a brick dedicated to Dennis' father, Vaeth Hewitt Sr., a WWII Marine Veteran, offering one of the day's most visible examples of what the program is meant to accomplish.

Jim Old, chairman of the DeBary Foundation and a 20-year Navy combat aviator, framed the project in terms of civic identity. "Veterans Memorial Park is a lasting expression of our community's gratitude to those who defended our freedoms," Old said. "It reflects DeBary's respect for their service and the civic pride that unites our city. As chairman of the Foundation and a 20-year Navy combat aviator, I am honored to speak for our entire team, who are proud to help bring this plaza to life as a tribute to those who served."

The brick program expands a park already dense with military symbolism. The site is home to a U.S. Air Force F-15, a Navy anchor, and a U.S. Army tank. The DeBary Foundation coordinated brick sales and fundraising; city staff handled installation.

Jason Schaitz, DeBary's Parks and Recreation Director, described the partnership as a breakthrough for a long-delayed goal. "This project had long been a goal for our Memorial Park, but funding for the bricks was the missing piece," Schaitz said. "Through the Foundation's support and community-driven fundraising, that vision became a reality. We're thrilled to expand the ways we honor our veterans and heroes and look forward to building on this momentum together."

The foundation, organized as a Florida 501(c)(3), is staffed largely by volunteers. Mike Newman serves as project lead for the bricks program, Terry Hogue as foundation artist, and Jeffrey Faust provides pro bono accounting support. The early planning included a public kickoff presentation and city briefing before the February dedication.

Bricks are available in 4x8 and 8x8 sizes, with design options that include a warfare designation pin, branch logo, or Gold Star layout. Veteran organizations including the VFW and American Legion may purchase branded bricks for a designated section of the plaza. Gold Star families receive a 15% discount. The foundation reviews all orders before production to ensure appropriate content. Under the program's recurring schedule, bricks purchased by September 5 each year will be installed as a group prior to Veterans Day.

The park, founded alongside the city itself in 1993 and situated along the St. Johns River corridor, now carries a new layer of permanence: the names of those who served, set in stone, one brick at a time.