SARASOTA, Fla. — Gazing upon a 12 foot bronze Eagle is a sight to see, and a welcome one at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch in Sarasota.
What You Need To Know
- The Veterans and Visionaires Memorial Eagle will be dedicated on The Glenridge’s 20th anniversary. It pays tribute to the founding members of the community, as well as the 355 veterans who have lived there over the past two decades
- The Eagle stands nearly 12 feet high from base to wingtip. Wingspan stretches approximately 8 feet and weighs about 1,700 lbs
- Dawn Agnew-Mundell, the sculptor, is a graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design. She is affiliated with the National Sculpture Society
The statue was recently built to inspire and remember the sacrifices and lives given for democracy.
“The veterans over the history of our nation have always stepped up to lift up our nation, to protect our freedoms, to provide the foundation of liberty,” said Chaplain Jim Agnew, a veteran and resident at The Glenridge.
Chaplain Agnew served in the Army. He and others at The Glenridge are preparing for Veteran’s Day and the 20th anniversary of the senior living community.
Looking on at the symbol of freedom, he is joined by Howard Crowell, a former general in the Army, and two World War II veterans, George Measer and David Ambrose.
Measer and Ambrose are both 98. They both began their military service as teenagers.
“Eighteen. Right out of high school, I was drafted,” said Measer. “As the saying goes, ‘I want you.’”
Measer served in the Army.
“The 88th Infantry Division, 349th Infantry Regiment, the Third Battalion, company M, which was a heavy weapons company,” said Measer.
He saw combat in Italy.
“That was a little over two years, that was long enough. I am lucky I am here,” said Measer.
Ambrose feels the same. He was in the Pacific, serving as a quartermaster in the Navy.
“Even though I was young, there is a possibility of me helping... To be able to help to save these people, save the country,” said Ambrose.
At one point, The Glenridge had 173 WWII veterans living in the community. Today there are only eight still living.
Ambrose and Measer are both proud to see the new memorial installed just before Veteran’s Day.
“It keeps me remembering all the stuff that I did,” said Ambrose.
“When I first saw that Eagle up there, I thought, my God that is a beautiful, beautiful thing,” said Measer.
A bronze eagle, a symbol of thanks, for one who wears a bit of bronze of his own.
“It’s a bronze star,” said Measer, pointing to the medal on his chest. “It’s an honor to have one of these.”
The Eagle was designed by Chaplain Agnew’s daughter, Dawn Agnew-Mundell.