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GRANT-VALKARIA, FL — What began as a proud and ambitious community effort to honor veterans has turned into a contentious debate over authenticity, symbolism, and respect. At the center of the controversy is a six-foot statue planned for the Grant-Valkaria Veterans Memorial Park that some say fails to reflect the very individuals it’s meant to honor—American soldiers.
During a recent Grant-Valkaria Town Council meeting, U.S. Army veteran and military collector Richard Dockery publicly objected to the soldier statue currently in production. Dockery stated that the statue, still in clay form and not yet bronzed, is riddled with inaccuracies that misrepresent U.S. military gear and appearance. His comments can be heard in the video below.
“The helmet is not U.S. issue,” Dockery said. “The gear is commercial and Chinese. Even the ammo carrier resembles a Rhodesian rig typical of communist forces.” He added that the boots and pants also do not match any American military uniform and called the piece “a poor imitation of a soldier.”
Dockery, clearly passionate about the memorial’s integrity, urged the town and the Grant-Valkaria Community Association (GBCA) to halt the bronzing process and reevaluate the statue before it’s too late.
Lois McManis, who spoke on behalf of the GBCA as its President and is involved in overseeing the memorial’s construction, responded by noting that the statue was selected by a veterans committee, not by her or the GBCA. She said several other statue options were rejected due to copyright restrictions, and this particular model was already being prepared for bronzing. You can listen to her remarks in the video below.
In a Facebook post later that day, Dockery recounted that McManis told him, “If you don’t like it, don’t visit it.” Dockery described the remark as dismissive and insulting.
“As a U.S. Army veteran, I am disgusted and insulted,” Dockery wrote. “A U.S. Veterans memorial should not have a statue that is not indicative of an American soldier. This is not an honor, but an insult.”
Photos of the statue in question appear to support many of Dockery’s critiques. The gear, helmet, and posture do not align with standard issue U.S. military equipment from any era. Instead, the statue resembles a generic or foreign figure, likely mass-produced overseas—raising broader concerns about authenticity and sourcing.
Adding fuel to the fire is the perception that public input and veteran voices are being brushed aside in a rush to complete the project. “This is exactly why we need transparency and early public review,” one resident commented on social media. “This should have never gotten to this point without a vetting process.”
The Grant-Valkaria Veterans Memorial Park has been a major initiative supported by local volunteers and funded through donations, memorial brick sales, and community events. According to the memorial’s official website, the park is set to include six monuments, benches, a battlefield cross, and a bronze soldier statue, among other symbolic elements.
A March article by Sebastian Daily celebrated the progress, noting that the project was running ahead of schedule and under budget thanks to volunteer labor and community support.
However, that momentum is now overshadowed by the question: Does this statue reflect who we are honoring?
Despite Dockery’s testimony, no members of the town council responded to his concerns during the meeting. The matter was left unaddressed, with officials moving on to the next agenda item.
Critics argue that silence from the town could undermine public trust and disrespect the very people the park was built to honor.
“The council must act,” one commenter posted. “This is a town-sanctioned monument on public land. It deserves scrutiny, especially when veterans themselves raise red flags.”
As of now, the statue remains in production, and no changes have been announced. Dockery and others hope the town will pause and consider commissioning a design that accurately reflects the American military—something veterans and families can feel proud of.
“This memorial is meant to honor those who served,” Dockery wrote. “Let’s get it right.”
