Marissa – Historical Heroes Blog

Derek Hough pledges $2.5 million for Charlie Kirk statue at Ford Field

I am not sure how reputable the source is, but this would be pretty cool if true: Derek Hough Pledges $2.5 Million for Bronze Statue Honoring Charlie Kirk at Ford Field

When Columbus’s first plan was thwarted

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New statue of St. John Paul II at St. Leonard’s Church in Boston

St. Leonard’s Church – the home of Boston’s Christopher Columbus statue – has another new statue in its collection.

Unlike the white marble statue of Columbus, this statue is made of wood, painted, and depicts Pope (and now Saint) John Paul II. Also, unlike Columbus, who resides outside the church in its Peace Garden, the John Paul II statue lives inside the church.

According to the church’s Facebook page, the statue was designed by church Master of Ceremonies Michael Bonetti and carved of oak wood by master carpenters in Ortisei, Italy.

It was officially blessed and dedicated on October 19. Check out this post for a photo and more info, this post for a video, and this post for some more photos.

Just cause

I love this image.

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Beautiful photos of sunset at the Talbot Boys monument

Via Judy Smith Photography:

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New photos from Valor Memorial Park 10/25 and 10/27

Some more photos from the beautiful Valor Memorial Park, the first set from 10/25 and the second set from 10/27.

More photos of Cody’s Wish statue at Kentucky Horse Park

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So beautiful!

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Battle of Cedar Creek Reenactment Oct. 18, 2025

Check out photos and videos of this great event, courtesy of Judy Smith Photography:

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New grave marker for Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Anderson Forrest

For the past 136 years, Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Anderson Forrest laid in an unmarked grave. However, this changed in September 2025 due to the efforts of the Confederate Cleaner and his supporters. The Facebook page, dedicated to sharing stories of Confederate soldiers and photos of their graves, organized a fundraiser to erect a stone for Lt. Col. Forrest. Check out this post for photos of Forrest and his new gravestone, as well as a bit about him. He was the brother of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, served in the Battle of Shiloh, and rose from being a Captain in the 3rd Tennessee Cavalry to a Lieutenant Colonel in the 21st Tennessee Cavalry. Like his brother, he was known for his amazing skills as a cavalry leader.

Vietnam War statues at Valor Memorial Park

In addition to Confederate statues, Valor Memorial Park in North Carolina provides a home to a Spanish American War Memorial and a Vietnam War Memorial. The Vietnam statues are a new addition to the park and haven’t officially been installed yet, but they were displayed at a recent event. Photos of them can be seen here and here.