Location: 1300 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach (Convention Center Parking Lot)

Visitors will arrive at a dedication plaza, where a path will encircle a flying US flag, a POW-MIA flag, Florida, and county flags. Military and Coast Guard flags will fly from poles on the perimeter. The first statue, guests will encounter, is representative of Revolutionary War hero Margaret Corbin. The journey will continue down nature trails, toward Choctawhatchee Bay, where visitors will experience additional women veteran statues chosen by the Women's Veteran Memorial Advisory Committee, approved by the Board of County Commissioners and crafted by Sculptor Jon Hair.

The idea for the park was conceived under the leadership of County Commissioner Carolyn Newcomer Ketchel, who advocated for the preservation of the natural beauty within the park, while simultaneously giving well-deserved recognition to the women who have served the United States in combat. The park includes 1,700 linear ft. of ADA-accessible paved sidewalks and wooden boardwalks. Additional features include an honor wall, benches, landscaping and lighting.

The Women Veteran Monuments are accessible by parking at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center and feature a dedication plaza, ADA sidewalks, a landscape with irrigation and eight life-size bronze statues, funded entirely from Okaloosa County Tourism Development. A Living Shoreline, funded by a RESTORE grant, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and matching funds from Tourism Development, will be constructed to protect 2,200 linear feet of shoreline by reducing the impact of wave energy and providing an oyster habitat, a seagrass recruitment area and a salt marsh shelf. There is a boardwalk planned, along with an education component and post-construction monitoring. 

The park features eight statues in honor of women who have served our country as true patriots. Home to native wildlife and vegetation, the park is situated on the Choctawhatchee Bay coastline and pays homage to the military which has played an integral role in sculpting our community. Second only to Washington, D.C., Florida is home to one of the largest populations of women veterans in the nation. This one-of-a-kind memorial pays tribute to women who have served throughout history.

On November 11, 2021, Okaloosa County unveiled the Women Veterans Monuments, honoring women who have served and made significant contributions in the U.S. Military throughout history. VIEW PROGRAM FROM NOVEMBER 11, 2021 GRAND UNVELING. The monuments are arranged along a picturesque trail of the 17.5-acre Veterans' Park at 1300 Miracle Strip Parkway on Okaloosa Island.

Tour the Park