Veterans Legacy Summit

November 13–16, 2014 Event

Veterans Legacy Summit

The Purpose

The Patterson Foundation shared the unique public-private partnership story of Patriot Plaza, located in Florida's Sarasota National Cemetery, with leaders from across the country in November 2014 during the Veterans Legacy Summit. Leaders from the government, military, philanthropy, national veterans service organizations, and others supporting veterans came together to share ideas, learn about unique partnerships such as Patriot Plaza, challenge assumptions, and push the boundaries of potential to honor our nation's heroes.

Strengthening the Impact

The Patterson Foundation fully funded the Veterans Legacy Summit to strengthen national awareness and interest in multifaceted ways to honor veterans and their families. This conference facilitated cross-sector connections among attendees and shared Patriot Plaza with the nation, providing other communities with a successful blueprint to follow for similar enhancements at other national cemeteries.

FAQ's

Click on frequently asked questions below to learn more about this initiative...

Why did The Patterson Foundation support the Veterans Legacy Summit?

The Patterson Foundation supported this national conference to strengthen national awareness and interest in honoring veterans and their families — especially through partnerships like the one that created Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery.

What events were featured during the Veterans Legacy Summit?

The Veterans Legacy Summit encompassed numerous local venues and entities hosting a variety of events highlighting veterans' issues and the entire military experience. Military leaders, dignitaries, and public figures from across the country lent their time and expertise to the summit, serving as speakers and contributors during each event.

The Veterans Legacy Summit, held in Sarasota, Florida, between November 14–16, 2014, was comprised of the following events (see links for details):

Gallery Walk/Creative Conversations — Interactive engagements with Patriot Plaza artists at the Ringling Museum of Art
Veterans Legacy Film Festival — Screenings of films documenting the lives of service members and military families throughout our nation's history, with students from local schools as well as adults filling the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Art Symposium — Series of panels and workshops at Ringling College of Art and Design featuring Patriot Plaza's award-winning artists and photojournalists
“Zoned In” Workshops — Educational sessions at Florida Studio Theatre devoted to veterans' issues
“Legacy Zone” Booths — Exhibition of national veterans service organizations at Patriot Plaza
Celebrate Service & Sacrifice — Heartfelt salute to America's veterans featuring inspiring guests and speakers at Patriot Plaza
West Point Band Community Concert — Full-length musical tribute to service members in all five branches of the military featuring the U.S. Army's oldest band and performed at Patriot Plaza as a gift to the community

What was the impact of the Veterans Legacy Summit?

There were many accomplishments associated with the Veterans Legacy Summit. Here are the highlights:

Attracted guests from 25 states and the District of Columbia, with upwards of 7,000 participants at the various events
Connected The Patterson Foundation’s military-related initiatives and the work of others across the country to the White House's Joining Forces initiative thanks to a plenary by Col. Steve Parker, executive director of Joining Forces
Paid tribute to multiple aspects of the lives and experiences of veterans and military families through an eclectic series of events
Connected Patriot Plaza's artists to national dignitaries and photojournalists whose work is featured in the art at Patriot Plaza
Connected military leaders with leaders from veterans service organizations, creating opportunities to share these services with active duty personnel and inspire similar programs within the military

In addition, journalist Soledad O'Brien introduced her documentary "The War Comes Home," a powerful look at how post-traumatic stress impacts veterans returning from conflicts abroad