Eagan Women Veterans Statue Dedication
The TLDR:
Eagan is dedicating a new life-size bronze statue honoring women who've served in the U.S. military at Central Park's Tribute and Memorial Plaza.
The dedication ceremony is Thursday, July 2 at 6 p.m. — free and open to everyone.
It's the plaza's first statue recognizing women, joining the existing military, firefighter, and police statues.
The project was led by American Legion Post 594 with the City of Eagan and a long list of local groups pitching in.
The keynote speaker is retired Maj. Gen. Johanna Clyborne, the Minnesota National Guard's first female two-star general.
For 15 years, the Tribute and Memorial Plaza behind the Eagan Community Center has honored the people who serve — a bronze soldier saluting, a firefighter hauling gear, a police officer shielding a child. This week, the plaza gets a piece it's never had: a statue of a woman in uniform.
Eagan dedicates its new women veterans statue on Thursday, July 2 at 6 p.m., at the Tribute and Memorial Plaza in Central Park (1507 Central Parkway, right next to the Community Center). The ceremony is called "Women in Service Statue Dedication: Honoring Their Service. Inspiring Our Future," and it's free — no ticket, no RSVP. Just show up. You can find it on our event calendar here.
The idea was simple, and honestly a little overdue. The plaza celebrated service members for years, but none of the statues were women. A group of Post 594 members set out to fix that — recognizing the women who've served in every branch of the armed forces, and giving the next generation of Eagan kids something to look up at.
Getting it built was a community effort. American Legion Post 594 led the project in partnership with the City of Eagan, and the fundraising pulled in help from the Eagan Lions Club, both Eagan Rotary clubs, and a bunch of local businesses and neighbors chipping in toward a $35,000 goal. The city covered the installation and now owns the statue as a permanent part of the plaza. The piece itself was created by Brodin Studios, a Minnesota sculpture studio known for its military and memorial work.
The keynote comes from retired Maj. Gen. Johanna Clyborne, and it's hard to imagine a better fit. Clyborne enlisted as a private just after turning 17, went on to become the first woman to command a brigade and reach the rank of brigadier general in the Minnesota Army National Guard, and in 2019 became the first woman to make major general in the Minnesota National Guard. She's a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a Bronze Star recipient, and in her civilian life she's a founding partner at a Shakopee law firm. If you want to read her full remarks on what the statue means to her, the Sun ThisWeek Dakota County Tribune ran a great interview with her here.
If you want to bring the whole family, it pairs nicely with everything else happening in Eagan this holiday week — check our roundup of South Metro 4th of July fireworks while you're planning.
Want to chip in? The project has been collecting community donations here.
FAQ
When and where is the dedication? Thursday, July 2 at 6 p.m., at the Tribute and Memorial Plaza in Eagan's Central Park (1507 Central Parkway), next to the Eagan Community Center.
Is it free? Yes. It's open to the public — no ticket needed.
Who's behind the statue? American Legion Post 594 led the effort in partnership with the City of Eagan, with fundraising help from the Eagan Lions Club, the Eagan Rotary clubs, local businesses, and community donors. It was created by Brodin Studios.
Who's speaking? Retired Maj. Gen. Johanna Clyborne, the Minnesota National Guard's first female two-star general, is giving the keynote.
Can I still donate? Yes — donations have been collected through GiveMN at givemn.org/story/eaganwomenstatue.
