Freedom Fountain Observance
Dedicated to all those who passed through Onslow County in service to their Country
New military service medallions will be unveiled as part of the 2013 Freedom Fountain Observance. Hosted by the Onslow Civic Affairs Committee and the City of Jacksonville, the Observance will be held at 9:30AM, Thursday, November 7, 2013 at the Freedom Fountain and the public is encouraged to attend.
The Freedom Fountain, built largely with private funds, was dedicated last November to all those who pass through Onslow County in service to their Country. The new fountain replaces one that had been put in place to mark the beginning of Freedom Way in 1998. The new fountain is located at the intersection of Johnson Boulevard and New Bridge Street and will extend the memorials and honors from The Lejeune Memorial Gardens where the Beirut, Vietnam and 9-11 memorials are located.
Many believe that the new Freedom Fountain has become an icon of Jacksonville and has been a major photographic backdrop for many occasions.
The Observance will renew the dedication of the Fountain to those who serve, and will honor the military services with five Service Medallions. Each weighs 175 pounds and will eventually be mounted in the arches in the Freedom Fountain back wall.
The wall had intended to house five statues representing the five services, but cost and complications on deciding on a specific statue for each service caused the election of service medallions to represent the services. The medallions will be mounted in such a manner that statues can still be installed in the future and the medallions used at the site in a different manner.
Another part of the 2013 observance will be the renewal of the fountain by blending water from all around Onslow County into the fountain. Representatives of various areas of Onslow County will bring water from their area to share in the fountain symbolizing the wide geography where those who serve their Country live within Onslow County.
The public is invited with special parking to be provided across the street and at City Hall during the ceremony.
The new fountain features a center jet dedicated to Freedom, a trio of fountainheads surrounding it representing the three levels of government (Federal, State & Local), and then 50 bubblers at the rim of the edgeless pool representing the 50 states.
Contact City Hall 910 938-5220