'Defending Freedom' Arch Proposed for Broadway

A permanent arch may someday replace a banner honoring Dunedin's returning military heroes.

The proposed aluminum arch for the entrance of downtown Broadway would feature the words "Defending Freedom" and provide room for the city to feature individual names as needed.

Downtown merchant Patti Coleman is spearheading efforts to bring the arch to Broadway. 

Coleman grew up an Air Force brat and has a view of the vinyl banner from where she works at The Candy Bar. It hangs between two permanent posts on either side of Broadway, and has a history of distracting drivers from traffic light changes at the Main Street intersection. The sign reads: Thanks for Defending Freedom, The City of Dunedin Welcomes You Home and frequently features the name of the most recent returning Dunedin veteran.

"I've been staring at that vinyl sign since 9/11," Coleman said to city leaders at a recent community redevelopment meeting. "Its done its job. It's a wonderful piece, but I'd like to see something a little more permanent."

It has the support of the city's community redevelopment agency director.

"We feel this is timeless," said Bob Ironsmith, Community Redevelopment Agency director, "regardless of what happens."

The proposed "Freedom" arch, designed by Jeff Smith, architect, is just across the street from Purple Heart Park and a short walk to the state stone VFW Memorial at Edgewater Park. It would use the existing posts on Broadway, be weighted for hurricane resistance, and possibly use LED lights for visibility at night. The arch would also be placed above the traffic light, Ironsmith said.  

City leaders embraced the concept at the May 16 meeting. 

Commissioner Ron Barnette pointed out its timeless characteristics.

"The brevity of the way it reads, without the term 'welcome home' — it doesn't exclude that obviously — but at some point there will be probably less a need for bringing people home and more a need for recognizing people here," he said.

Heather Gracy echoed his sentiment.

"Just steps away from the Purple Heart Park, this speak a lot to every one's heart," Gracy said. "It just shows what the downtown can be."

Ironsmith said the community redevelopment budget has $25,000 available for the project, but any additional funds would need to be raised. He said he would bring it back to commissioners once he has a cost estimate.

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