COCONUT CREEK, FL – As a military veteran, John Brodie visits Coconut Creek’s Veterans Park regularly to reflect on his years of service.

The Coconut Creek commissioner said he likes that the park on Lyons Road and Sample Road is clean and well-maintained.

But he adds something is missing: a “connection to the veterans.”

SIGNUPSCRIPT

“I’m not taking anything away from this park, but where’s the emotional connection to the men and women who served this nation?” he said this week, sitting on a bench overlooking the park.

The park -- dedicated in 1989 -- has a remembrance plaque and wall, and flags from the different military branches, as well as benches and smaller plaques under trees honoring individual veterans and the Sept. 11^th attacks.

Missing, Brodie said, are specific dedications marking the nation’s many battles from the era of World War 1 and World War 2 to the most recent Gulf War conflicts.**BULLSEYE

“We need to upgrade this park,” said Brodie, who served during the Desert Shield and Desert Storm wars. “I feel a connection to other veterans, but I have no connection to this park. This park is vaguely for veterans.”

As a commissioner, he asked this month for the city’s state and federal lobbyists to look for grants to cover the costs of adding more memorials to the park.

He proposes adding small statues or plagues featuring helmets from the wars such as the iconic image of boots and helmet associated with the Vietnam War.**STANDARD

“We have to recognize veterans and what they did and fought for,” Brodie said.

Another Coconut Creek veteran, Brien Zeien, agrees.

Zeien, who served in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm, said he didn’t even know there was a veterans park in Coconut Creek, where he’s lived for nine years.**BULLSEYE

He suggested, in addition to honoring the individual wars, the park should also have dedications naming Coconut Creek veterans who served in the conflicts.

Whether local veterans are named on metallic plaques or named online (plagues could have QR codes linking to a website with their names), it’s important to name them, he said.

“It’s really meaningful to have your name on a plaque,” he said. “That’s very personal. That tells you the person was there and served the nation.”

It’s not clear yet if there’s any public money available to add memorials to the park, Brodie said.

He said he’ll check back with the lobbyists, but, for now, he wants to start a public discussion about the need to upgrade the veterans park.

“Again, this is a great park, but we need more connections to the people who sacrificed so much for this country,” he said.

MORE COCONUT CREEK NEWS:

GOVERNMENT: Coconut Creek Park Getting Upgrades Including Features with Butterflies

POLICE & FIRE: Coconut Creek Police Handled Less Fraud Cases Last Year

ART & ENTERTAINMENT: Things To Do This Weekend in Coconut Area, Jan. 20-22

POLICE & FIRE: Woman Recovering From Two-Car Crash Involving Coconut Creek Police Officer