Two New Statues Unveiled to Honor Women Veterans

Staff Reports
May 28, 2025
1:45 pm
Military, News, Okaloosa County, State Government

In Brief:

The 3rd Annual Women Veterans Day ceremony in Okaloosa County will take place June 12 at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. This year’s event will include the unveiling of two new statues honoring women veterans Capt. Linda Bray and Florence Ebersole Smith Finch.

Okaloosa County will recognize the extraordinary contributions of women in military service during the 3rd Annual Women Veterans Day ceremony, taking place at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12, 2025.

Held at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, the event will feature keynote remarks from Col. Kristen Wood, Commander of the 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group. A wreath-laying ceremony will follow at the Women Veterans Monuments in Veterans Park.

This year’s ceremony will also unveil two new life-sized bronze statues honoring:

Captain Linda Bray led her Army company in combat during the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama — a historic act at a time when women were barred from combat. She was recently awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for her leadership.
Florence Ebersole Smith Finch, a WWII Coast Guard veteran of Filipino descent, helped smuggle supplies to prisoners of war in the Philippines before being captured and tortured by Japanese forces. She later received the Medal of Freedom.

“These statues represent bravery, leadership and sacrifice,” said County Vice Chairman Carolyn Ketchel. “This day has become a beloved tradition to honor women who’ve served our nation — not only on this day but all year long.”

Women’s Veterans Day commemorates the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act by President Harry Truman in 1948, which allowed women to serve in the regular military branches. Florida officially recognized the day in 2021 through a proclamation by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Eight statues currently stand along the Veterans Park quarter-mile memorial path on Okaloosa Island, surrounded by native wildlife and a nearby great blue heron rookery. The new statues will be placed along the trail in the coming months.

Find more about the Women Veterans Monuments at myokaloosa.com.