New foundation launched to preserve ‘Circle of Heroes’ underwater veterans memorial

In 2019, a first-of-its-kind underwater memorial officially opened honoring U.S. military veterans. Now, years later, it’s in need of preservation.

Enter The Circle of Heroes at Veteran’s Reef Foundation, Inc., a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit established to support and preserve the memorial. Volunteers will serve on the foundation’s board, ensuring fulfillment of its mission to maintain the memorial, repair and restore statues there, conduct environmental and safety monitoring of the site, promote public awareness, and fund new statues.

Sarah Bascom, a prominent Florida communications strategist, is serving as the foundation’s President.

“The Circle of Heroes is a one-of-a-kind tribute to our veterans and a meaningful part of the local community. With the help of supporters, we can preserve this memorial, complete its vision, and ensure visitors near and far can pay tribute to our heroes for years to come,” she said.

The memorial is located 10 miles off the Pinellas County coast at the Veteran’s Reef. Currently, there are 13 life-size statues representing five branches of the U.S. military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

The statues are arranged in a 100-foot circle about 40 feet below the water’s surface. Serving both as a memorial and a living reef that benefits marine life, the underwater display has attracted divers from all over the country, including military veterans, active-duty service members and others.

But with active hurricanes in the area and increasingly strong storms that churn the Gulf waters, the statues and protective buoys safeguarding the memorial have undergone damage and are in need of repair.

The foundation also aims to raise funds to expand the memorial to 24 statues.

Donations can be made online.

The memorial was first envisioned by Dr. Heyward Mathews, who founded the Clearwater Marine Science Center, now known as the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Bascom is Mathews’ daughter.