Washington D.C., Jan 18, 2021 / 15:35 pm
The National Garden of American Heroes will include statues of many notable Catholic figures, including five saints and numerous people who are on the path to sainthood.
President Donald Trump announced in an executive order Jan. 18 that a garden will be built to "reflect the awesome splendor of our country's timeless exceptionalism," and to serve as a response to the spate of vandalism on statues during the summer of 2020.
"On (the National Garden's) grounds, the devastation and discord of this moment will be overcome with abiding love of country and lasting patriotism," said Trump. "America is responding to the tragic toppling of monuments to our founding generation and the giants of our past by commencing a new national project for their restoration, veneration, and celebration."
The executive order included a list of names who will be featured in the park; Trump referred to these figures as people who embody "the American spirit of daring and defiance, excellence and adventure, courage and confidence, loyalty and love."