Statue Of Fallen FIU Vet To Anchor Veterans Plaza

MIAMI, FL — A sculpture of fallen soldier Paul Michael Felsberg will inaugurate FIU's new Felsberg Veterans Plaza, a memorial plaza for members of the FIU community who have served in the military. The new plaza and statue will be unveiled Saturday in honor of Veterans Day. Miami-based law firm Genovese Joblove & Battista contributed the sculpture of the FIU graduate, for whom the plaza is named.

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School officials say the plaza is intended to serve as a gathering place for the community to pay tribute to FIU veterans.

Felsberg was an accomplished FIU student-athlete and second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. A criminal justice major, he graduated with a 3.94 grade point average, earning the Athletics President’s Award as the athlete with the highest GPA.

"On Oct. 13, 2004, he died during a rocket-propelled attack during the second Gulf War in Ramadi, Iraq," according to FIU, which said that Felsberg served as a weapons platoon commander.

"Felsberg volunteered for duty in Iraq after learning that a replacement was needed for an officer killed in combat," school officials added. "He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device along with the Purple Heart for his actions in combat."

Participating in Saturday's ceremony will be FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg, representatives of Genovese Joblove & Battista, Felsberg family members and Miami-Dade Commissioner José "Pepe" Diaz, who chairs the county’s Military Affairs Commission and previously served in the Marine Corps. The event will feature the USMC Color Guard and FIU Marching Band.

The event takes place at 3 p.m. on FIU's main campus, 11200 SW 8th St. Felsberg Veterans Plaza is on the south side of campus, adjacent to Parkview Residence Hall and across from Riccardo Silva Stadium.

Statue rendering courtesy of Miller Legg