The City of Orlando recently started the process of adding a Lone Sailor Navy Memorial to the south end of Blue Jacket Park by approving the memorial at City Council.
This memorial, developed by the Navy League, is meant to inspire today’s youth and honor sea service men and women and their families: past, present and future. The memorial will help to convey our city's appreciation to the men and women in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine who voluntarily put their lives in harm’s way to protect freedom.
This new memorial will feature an embedded ship’s pier in decorative concrete and a dedication plaque with the chronological history of the Navy in Central Florida.
The location was selected to help commemorate the site where many heroes in uniform began their service in the U.S. Navy at the former Recruit Training Center. For more than 30 years, this site served as the Orlando Naval Training Center and was home to thousands of service personnel known as “Blue Jackets.” In 2000, the City of Orlando designated 75 acres of this site as Blue Jacket Park to serve as a special place for reflection and physical renewal.
The Navy League is continuing to sell commemorative pavers at Blue Jacket Park to help fund this memorial.