BAKER COUNTY, Fla. – From one side of U.S. 90 near Lowder Street to the other, it’s impossible to miss the touching display of crosses and flags lining that stretch of Baker County road.
Reading the names of the many hundreds of heroes, it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride.
Terry Caton is the post commander for American Legion Post 83, which started spearheading the “Heroes Forever” program this year.
“Just like the chills I just got,” Caton said. “It means something to all of us.”
The “Heroes Forever” program was first launched in late 2018 by Buck and Charlotte Oden and the Baker Conservative Women’s Network. It started with 65 crosses lining Route 228. It has since blossomed into 880 crosses along U.S. 90.
Each cross is placed along the roadway by volunteers. Those bearing a black strike near the top symbolize the heroes who’ve either passed away or were killed in action. While the heroes are mostly local, Caton says the impact is far greater.
“Just this year, we had a gentleman come up from Orlando to take a picture with this father’s cross. It has gone beyond the bounds of Baker County,” Caton said. “It’s really moving.”
The route for the display is in alphabetical order. It begins with the last names starting with the letter “A.” The route eventually moves across the street and ends with “Z” last names. There are also crosses and flags honoring Prisoners of War and those Missing In Action. Those crosses say, “You will never be forgotten.”
Having served in the military for 13 years and completed multiple deployments overseas, this means a lot to Caton, personally.
“Being a combat veteran, having lost buddies that didn’t get to come back home, it’s very special to me,” Caton said. “What’s even more special to me is those that never served a day but want to come out and show and honor those that did and didn’t make it home. For me, as long as I’m able, this is something I’ll always do in some form or fashion.”
The volunteers also include help from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office. Caton says American Legion Post 83 continues to make this a community project, but he owes everything to those who started this project.
“This all goes back to Buck and Charlotte Oden and the Baker Conservative Women’s Network,” Caton said. “Without them starting it and having a passion to go from 65 crosses to 880, we wouldn’t be standing here talking today.”
In addition to the crosses already standing, there are nearly 150 names on a waitlist to eventually be added to a cross. This is because, right now, there isn’t enough room to safely add that many more crosses to the roadway.
Caton says he’s hopeful there will soon be a solution. The crosses will be on display through the week after Memorial Day. They’ll be put up again for Veterans Day this November. To volunteer or to add your loved ones’ name to the waitlist, you can call: 904-878-0076 or email: heroes@flpost83.org.
The Baker County American Legion Post 83 is also hosting a wreath-laying ceremony Monday morning at Heritage Park. Seating begins at 10 a.m. The ceremony starts an hour later.