TheCircle of Heroes is an underwater military veterans memorial 10 miles off the coast ofHoneymoon Island State Park in theGulf of Mexico. It is the first underwater veterans memorial.[1]
The statues were installed during the week of July 22, 2019 after 2-1/2 years of planning and creation.[2][3] They were dedicated on August 5, 2019, and currently consist of thirteen 6-foot tall statues placed 40 feet underwater, with plans to add twelve more statues.[4] At the center, stands a 4 foot high, 3-ton pentagon shaped monument featuring the emblems of the fivemilitary branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.[5][6] The statues are arranged in a 100 foot circle around the center monument.[6] The memorial is also considered arecreational dive site.
^Dickstein, Corey."Memorial shows deep gratitude",Stars and Stripes (United States Edition) (in partnership withTampa Bay Times), volume 11, number 36, August 15, 2019, age 14.(subscription required)
^Dyhouse, Janie. "VFW's Image 'Shines' Under the Sea",VFW Magazine, volume 107, Number 3, November/December 2019, page 23.
