america 250
In 2023, the Lakeland Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Polk County Veterans Council launched an inspiring initiative to commemorate America's 250th anniversary with a permanent monument in Veterans Memorial Park. Partnering Platform Art, the organizations began planning a landmark tribute that honors the nation's founding and the enduring spirit of patriotism. Following a competitive artist selection process, sculptors Becky Ault and Mike Cunningham of Art Design Group were chosen to create a figurative bronze monument honoring Mary Katharine Goddard—the courageous patriot commissioned by the Continental Congress to typeset and print the first publicly distributed copy of the Declaration of Independence bearing the names of its signers. Her remarkable contribution ensured that the Declaration reached all thirteen colonies, securing her place among the unsung heroes of America's founding.
One signature changed America forever.
Meet the woman bold enough to put her name on history.
She printed freedom, now we are honoring her legacy.
MARY KATHARINE GODDARD
Veterans Day Celebration and Dedication
Saturday, Nov. 7 at 9:00 AM
Veteran's Memorial Park, Lakeland
hosted by
The Polk County Veterans Council
Lakeland Daughters of the American Revolution
Platform Art, Inc.
In support of
The America 250 coalition of public and private partners coordinated by the non-partisan U.S. Semi-quincentennial Commission, created by Congress, and its supporting nonprofit America250 Foundation.
The story never taught in history class starts here
Ambassadors
R&D Clark Family Foundation, Inc.
Lakeland ELKS Lodge 1291
Karl Pansler Law
Rita and Don Selvage Family Fund
within GiveWell Community Foundation
Harry W. and Jo Ann D. Wallace Foundation
Founders
A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure
America 250 Committee - Military Ball
Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation
Lonnie Brown Revocable Trust
Michele Z. and Gary E. Clark, Col. USAF (ret)
Chris McLaughlin
NSDAR, Lakeland Chapter
Patriots
Anonymous
Glen and Em Barden Fund
within GiveWell Community Foundation
Bell-Barnett Family Fund
Hilda Sutton and William D. Blanton Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Josh, J.Lenora and Tristan Bresler
William and Susan Eickhoff
Anne and Mike Furr
Robert H. and N. Diane Kinsey
James Lovely
Mayors Council on the Arts
Mike and Kathy McGee
The Glenn W. & Hazelle Paxson Morrision Foundation, Inc.
Nationalists
Becky Ault | Bank of Central Floirda
Boring Business Solutions | CPS Investment Advisors
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Lakelander Magazine | Martha Lu and Joh Luce
Jane and Robert Macey | Pam and Bill Mutz
Sally and Tom Petcoff | Pre-Con Construction of Florida
Reed, Mawhinney & Link, PLLC | Regal Lakeland
Dr. Alan and Linda Rich Fund
The Rotary Clubs of Lakeland
Brittany Sale | Susan and Mark Stephens
Utility Group of Florida | Natalie Whitcomb
Countrymen
Kathy Abels | Frankie Ambrose | Anonymous
Charles W. Bovay Family Fund
within the GiveWell Community Foundation
Broadway Real Estate Services, LLC
Citizens Bank & Trust | Stephanie Colon | Joseph Demidovich, III
Charles G. Edwards | David T. and Jean T. Elliott
Sandy and Bob Fuschetti | Lora Gardner | Mary Catherine Green
Cynthia Haffey in memory of Virginia McLaughlin
Holly Custom Painting, Inc. | Meredith Kehler | Lakeland Electric
Lakeland Fire Department | Lakeland Firefighters Benevolent Association
Law Offices of Peddy, P.A. | Beatty Raymond | James Ring
Jessica Ritchie in memory of S. Ray Ritchie
Abby Rodda | Dennis Ross
Rotary Twilight Foundation, Inc. | Leo Smith
Dr. K. Alan and Jan Snyder | SouthState Bank | Justin Troller
Margaret Anne Wheeler | Linda and Howard Wiggs
Aides to the Cause
Nancy C. Fisher | Martha Linder | Ronald Parks
Brian Rewis | Margaret Sloan | Jessica Ritchie | Susan M. Spelios
Gene Strickland | United Womens Club Lakeland
Jane S. Wood
Mary Katharine Goddard produces
First complete print of the Declaration
The Declaration of Independence was an act of treason. The men that signed the parchment Declaration of Independence, now in the National Archives, were literally pledging their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. They knew that their support of an act of independence would come back to haunt them if the British defeated George Washington and the Continental Army. If you take a closer look at a broadside printed in January 1777 by order of the Continental Congress, you'll notice another name committed to the cause. Not a signer, but a printer. Not a man, but a woman. Meet Mary Katharine Goddard, printer and postmaster to the Second Continental Congress in Baltimore.
Consider putting your
on a handsome check* or select this link to contribute online.
* Payable to:GiveWell Community Foundation MEMO: Path to Freedom
Mary Katharine Goddard
Becky Ault and Mike Cunningham, sculptors
clay model, artists studio
bronze sculpture, foundry
Steering Committee:
Lakeland Daughters of the American Revolution
Platform Art, Inc.
Polk County Veterans Council
Santa Fe Catholic and Lake Region high school students participate in a clay relief sculpting workshop with the artists. Their work will be cast in bronze and permanently installed with the America 250 monument.
Steering Committee visits the artists studio.
Veteran's Day ceremony and monument dedication November 7, 2026.
Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 becomes first corporate sponsor for America 250
Pictured: Elk Members Don Selvage, Justin Troller, Exalted Ruler Bob Fuschetti, Board Chairman Eric Schlaack, Secretary Alice Murray, Trustee Michelle Schlaack, Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter Members J. Lenora Bresler, Marchella McGinnis, Platform Art Director Cynthia Haffey, Platform Art Board Members Hunter Johnson and Terry Coney, and Polk County Veterans Council Chairman Gary Clark.
On November1st, Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 donated $15,000 to the America 250 “Path to Freedom” project to help kick start the two-and-a-half-year fundraising effort by the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Polk County Veterans Council and Platform Art to celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.
The America 250 “Path to Freedom” monument is a free-standing, life-size bronze sculpture of Mary Katharine Goddard, the woman who printed the Declaration of Independence. The sculpture, celebrating America’s 250th birthday, permanently installed in Veteran's Memorial Park, joins another 23 monuments recognizing the service and sacrifice of our nation’s military personnel and community’s first responders.
Related programs include a public lecture series, student history and sculpting workshops, and the development of a curriculum for on-going public docent-led tours. Walking tours will be available on national holidays with DAR members and Polk County Civics Academy students highlighting our nations founding, and its military and civics history The tours also serve as a memorial and tribute to the the people who served in our nascent military and supporters traditionally overlooked by history.