Students at Franklin Boys Preparatory Academy raised money for a memorial for Gold Star families.
Today they saw it for the first time. They're the families of fallen men and women killed in the line of duty.
"When the casualty officer read the statement that our son had been killed, we were in shock, my husband Craig and I, so much so that I asked them to read it again,” said Toni Gross, President American Gold Star mothers INC. Tampa Bay.
Toni and Craig Gross' son Corporal Frank R. Gross was killed in action July 16th, 2011.
"For these kids to bond together and raise funds in order to do this for the fallen is remarkable,” said Sara Osman, Gold Star mother.
The students at Franklin Boys Preparatory Academy raised $45,000 in 10 months to give Gold Star families a place to heal, a place to grieve and a place to call their own.
"Many of our sons, daugthers and loved ones are buried in faraway places like Arlington so having this here, this beautiful monument the boys made is a place for us to reflect and feel close to our fallen loved ones,” said Toni Gross.
The monument is the first of its kind in Florida.