- July 11, 2025
Nearly 300 veterans, community leaders, and supporters turned out for a celebration of the grand opening of Volusia County’s Veterans Memorial Plaza in Daytona Beach on Friday, April 25.
“Today is more than a ceremony. It’s a celebration. A culmination. A promise fulfilled,” said Volusia County Councilman Jake Johansson. “With great pride, we officially open Veterans Memorial Plaza — a space that now stands as a lasting tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of our veterans and their families. This is a place built with heart, with honor, and with the deep respect our heroes so richly deserve.”
The $1.4 million plaza, built on the northwest corner of the Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge in Daytona Beach, is the final phase of Volusia County’s memorial to veterans along the Halifax River. The county opened the adjoining Veterans Memorial high-rise bridge in 2020. The new plaza features include flags representing the six branches of the U.S. Military, a World War I memorial, and a 6-foot fire monument with the names of Volusia County residents who died in the line of duty.
The plaza provides a dedicated location where residents and visitors can memorialize and honor fallen veterans. It also serves as a site for local veterans groups and other organizations to host ceremonies and celebrations.
Residents may honor their loved ones with on-site engraved bricks, which are available for donations of $125 or $300. More than 150 bricks have already been placed at the site, with more on the way. To request a brick, visit https://www.volusia.org/veterans-memorial-plaza/.
The grand opening followed years of planning, fundraising, and working with local veterans groups. Founding visionary and benefactor Josh Wagner spearheaded the project with help from county staff, elected officials, volunteers, and personal donors.
“Today was a special and emotional day,” Wagner said. “There were a lot of moving parts to get the project completed, but it was totally worth it.”
The plaza was funded through the Volusia ECHO program and private donations from Joshua Wagner, the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreation Facilities District, the Rotary Club of Daytona Beach, Dr. David Lloyd, Robert and Sherry Lloyd, Cici and Hyatt Brown, the France Family, Connie and Glenn Ritchey, Forough and Mori Hosseini, and others.
