Patriot Plaza is located at The Sarasota National Cemetery, which is a 295-acre United States National Cemetery located 4 miles east of I-75 on State Road 72 (Clark Rd). Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it was the sixth national cemetery developed in Florida.
Patriot Plaza features an outdoor exhibit with documentary photography, sculptures, and mosaics that explore the themes of Honoring Service, Inspiring Patriotism, and Embracing Freedom, as well as a 2,800-seat amphitheater and stage.
The art installations at Patriot Plaza are some of the space’s most inspiring and meaningful features. They are designed to preserve memory through art, honor the men, women (and their families) who serve, and convey their stories of courage, service, and sacrifice to future generations.
The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County serves as the coordinating organization for student field trips and public and private tours of Patriot Plaza.
The Patterson Foundation funded the design and construction of Patriot Plaza and donated it to our community and the National Cemetery Administration. Patriot Plaza is a space for our community to take pride in hosting veterans-related ceremonies and public events for generations to come.
PatriotPlaza@SarasotaArts.org
https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/patriot-plaza.html
9810 State Rd 72, Sarasota, FL 34241
941-365-5118 ext. 305
Patriot Plaza is an amphitheater and plaza located at the Sarasota National Cemetery featuring large outdoor artworks about the military, family, American history, and one’s own place in the world. Its themes are: HONOR SERVICE, INSPIRE PATRIOTISM, and EMBRACE FREEDOM. Trained Guides will provide a 90-minute tour and a learning activity to groups that visit the plaza. All of the Guides at Patriot Plaza are veterans or are the family members of veterans. They will share their own stories, as well as describe and discuss the stories that are in each artwork. The artworks are as diverse as our heroes and include bronze sculptures, large mosaics, marble tablets, a global map etched in granite and documentary photographs in this open air museum.
For students in Grades 4-5, Patriot Plaza is the perfect venue for exploring American values while also utilizing reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Students will use primary sources, interpret vocabulary, engage in text complexity, and enhance their writing skills. The focus is ELA and Visual Art standards. A Teacher’s Guide provides information and activities for teachers to implement before and after the visit. A pre-visit PowerPoint presentation introduces Patriot Plaza to students and provides basic information. A post-visit PowerPoint provides many photos and questions for follow-up discussions and/or writing activities.
There are funds available for buses for students in Grades 4-12. Follow this link to the reservation form to start your journey: https://form.jotform.com/71510699628162
Lindsey Mintz
317-402-8499
patriotplaza@sarasotaarts.org