- January 16, 2025
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Cindy Fitzgibbon recalled Old Glory, a patriotic horse statue, standing tall in front of the former United Medical Corp. in Windermere.
When giving directions, she used to tell people visiting that her family’s home was on Oakdale Street “right behind the red, white and blue horse.”
Indeed, the patriotic steed had become a town icon.
On Jan. 11, Old Glory took on a new meaning for Cindy Fitzgibbon, her husband, John Fitzgibbon, and their family.
Old Glory returned to Windermere’s town square as a dedicated permanent memorial to Cindy and John Fitzgibbon’s son, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon, who died Aug. 9, 2022, at 23 years old.
Evan Fitzgibbon, who grew up in Windermere, was living his lifelong dream when he was participating in a Ranger School weather-induced training exercise at Yonah Mountain, near Dahlonega, Georgia. He and four other Ranger candidates were struck by a falling tree, and Fitzgibbon and Staff Sgt. George Taber were killed.
Evan Fitzgibbon, whose name in Irish means “young warrior,” knew since third grade that he wanted to attend United States Military Academy West Point and become an Army Ranger.
In the months after his death, people in the community helped the family cope and grieve.
“Since the moment we found out about Evan’s passing, this town and community has been there for us, and … our hearts will be forever grateful for the way everyone in this community has continued to honor Evan while loving and supporting us,” Cindy Fitzgibbon said.
The family decided to put finding a way to memorialize their son on hold to give them more time to grieve.
But in January 2023, they found the perfect way to honor Evan Fitzgibbon.
Cindy Fitzgibbon said while shopping in a little store, the family found and purchased an artistic rendering of Windermere among the lakes. In the middle of town in the rendering was Old Glory.
A man of profound faith, Evan Fitzgibbon’s favorite scripture was Proverbs 21:31 — “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.”
Cindy Fitzgibbon said the last time her son had written the scripture was in one of his Ranger journals.
“We began connecting how Evan’s favorite scripture had the word ‘horse’ in it and how special that would be to have Old Glory come back as a permanent memorial,” she said. “Our family was all on board, and the idea of getting Old Glory back as this permanent memorial in honor of Evan became a joyful idea for us. We knew that Evan, knowing him, would have thought it was the coolest ever.”
Through connections in the community, including Bill and Pam Martini, who are close friends to the Fitzgibbons, and the dedication of Windermere Town Hall staff members, people worked closely with Don Dizney and his family, who owned Old Glory.
Don Dizney said being in the horse business, Old Glory was meant to represent a belief in winning by God’s will. Old Glory stood proudly for everyone to see from the mid-1990s until Dizney sold United Medical Corp. in 2021.
Once Dizney sold the United Medical Corp., Old Glory was taken down, but no one knew where it went.
“Nobody ever asked us where we moved to, but they all asked, ‘Where’s Old Glory?’” Dizney said with a laugh.
Once Dizney heard Evan Fitzgibbon’s favorite scripture was Proverbs 21:31, also one of Dizney’s favorites, he and his wife, Irene Dizney, knew Old Glory should be dedicated in the young hero’s honor. Donating Old Glory to the town of Windermere was a blessing, they said.
“It was God’s will that Old Glory was dedicated in Evan’s memory right here,” Irene Dizney said, pointing to Old Glory in front of the town of Windermere office at 614 Main St.
A plaque honoring Evan Fitzgibbon was placed on the ground in front of Old Glory. The plaque includes Evan Fitzgibbon’s and Don Dizney’s favorite scripture.
Cindy Fitzgibbon said Old Glory is a true representation of her son.
Evan Fitzgibbon not only was a Class of 2021 graduate of West Point, beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle and devoted fiance and friend — but also an artistic and creative person. At 5 years old, he started playing piano before going on to learn drums and guitar. Music became his creative outlet. Cindy Fitzgibbon said while he was at West Point, Evan Fitzgibbon left many songs he created and put on Spotify.
“Just like Evan was, Old Glory was patriotic and artistic,” Cindy Fitzgibbon said. “This is a special horse to (the Dizney) family, and Old Glory is as beautiful as I remember. Our memory of this horse being a nostalgic icon to our family is now combined with a new meaning for our family, one of honoring Evan and his life legacy and one of how God has used this community, both old and new, to show the importance of connecting love and kindness in people’s hearts.”
After unveiling Old Glory to a crowd of more than 100 people outside the town of Windermere office on a gloomy morning on Saturday, Jan. 11, Pastor Ray Lloyd sang “God Bless America.”
Mayor Jim O’Brien, alongside John and Cindy Fitzpatrick, stood with their hands on their hearts facing Old Glory in its new glory.
Pam Martini said those involved in planning the ceremony wanted to have the ceremony on Memorial Day 2024, but the Dizney family wanted to ensure Old Glory was in perfect condition. She said the statue had been out in the sun for a while and needed to be refurbished, so the Dizneys had Old Glory repainted to be in pristine condition for his return to Windermere.
After Evan Fitzgibbon’s death, many people in town came together to make black and gold ribbons, which represented the colors of the U.S. Military Academy, to honor him. But over time, the ribbons disappeared, Martini said. Now Old Glory will serve as a permanent reminder to keep Evan Fitzgibbon in people’s thoughts and “be inspired to do good things,” she said.
Lloyd said in a prayer at the beginning of the ceremony that Old Glory “will be a constant reminder that we can be strong, that we can find strength” in God.
After a prayer, Lloyd sang the chorus of “Amazing Grace.” As the song began, Lloyd’s voice bellowed in the air, but it wasn’t long after that dozens of other voices joined in harmony as the breeze made the American flags at the feet of Old Glory wave.
“Thank you, Evan, for reminding us that the battle belongs to the Lord and the victory is His,” Lloyd said.
