Tamarac Dedicates Liberty Tree to Begin the 250th Anniversary of U.S. Independence

by David Volz February 4, 2026

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Tamarac Dedicates Liberty Tree to Begin the 250th Anniversary of U.S. Independence 3

U.S. Marine Corps veteran James Clark and Mayor Gomez at the Liberty Tree dedication, alsong with the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. {David Volz}

Mayor Michelle J. Gomez and the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) dedicated a large live oak tree as a “Liberty Tree” at Tamarac Veterans Park on the morning of January 31.

A plaque was unveiled during the dedication.

This is the beginning of the city’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, according to Gomez.

SAR member and U.S. Marine Corps veteran James Clark was visiting the memorial at Veterans Park, saw the live oak, and thought it could be a good Liberty Tree. He approached Gomez, and they created the Liberty Tree Project. “I thought it was a great idea. I was honored to work with him to bring it to Veterans’ Park,” said Gomez.

Clark, who spearheaded the project, said, “I thought this would be a great place for a Liberty Tree, and I am glad to see it being dedicated.”

“When people come and pay tribute at the Veterans Honor Wall, may they also stop by the Liberty Tree and feel the strength of 250 years of freedom and think of the people who will continue to defend our nation,” said Gomez.

Members of the SAR and community leaders attended the dedication. Jonahan Hunt, senior vice-president of the Florida Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and Kim Zeman, Florida State Society regent, Daughters of the American Revolution, offered a greeting, and Kevin Shurte, an English teacher at Ramblewood Middle School and a leader in the SAR, gave a presentation on the Liberty Tree.

The Liberty Tree was dedicated and unveiled by Gomez and Clark. Then the Miamians, a barbershop singing group, performed patriotic songs.

The first Liberty Tree was a large elm near Boston Common. It was planted in 1646 and became a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty, a secret society of men who advocated for the rights of colonists. In 1765, large protests occurred at the tree against the Stamp Act. The stamp collector, Andrew Oliver, was hung in effigy from the tree, and he resigned, according to the American Battlefield Trust website.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.