HONORING LINCOLN'S PROMISE
Dayton VA Medical Center - Lincoln Statue
President Abraham Lincoln made a promise in 1865 to “...care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan...” and he signed the legislation to establish a system of soldier’s homes to care for veterans. The Dayton Soldier’s Home was one of the three initially authorized and it is known today as the Dayton VA Medical Center.
In 2018, AVHC – in collaboration with the Lincoln Society of Dayton – planned to honor this promise and created a project to erect a bronze statue of President Lincoln on the Dayton VAMC campus. The purpose of this memorial is to provide a place for reflection and healing, opportunities for educating students and future generations, and to create a national tourist destination point complementing the Dayton National VA History Center Museum and the Dayton National Cemetery for the Miami Valley.
PHASE ONE: The Statue
$225,000 was raised to create the bronze statue of Lincoln and it was completed in 2020. This statue was created by Ohio artist, Mike Major and it is breathtaking. When you stand in front of it and look upon Lincoln’s face, you can feel the satisfaction in his expression knowing that veterans who served their country would soon have a place to receive vital services and the space to heal.
PHASE TWO: The Statue Base & Surrounding Landscaping
The statue was placed on the Dayton VAMC campus for all to see. This phase which involved building the base and installing the surrounding landscaping began in February 2024. The Unveiling of the Lincoln Statue took place on September 16, 2024 at 3 PM. All were welcome to attend, and we had a large crowd.
The Phase 2 goal was to raise $250,000 by Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2023. Once $200,000 was collected, a private donation of $50,000 was made to reach the final goal.
Your support to finalize the beautiful space and put Lincoln on display was greatly appreciated. We thank you for your generous support.
The Dayton VA Center donated the land and provided much of the infrastructure, however, the actual cost of the statue was paid for with donations and monies raised by the AVHC, which is a private 501 c3, and not a part of the VA Center or the Federal government. We deeply appreciate the support of the community and many businesses for the successful completion of this project.
