Prefer to talk to a team member? Call or text us at (941) 413-0415. We will be in touch within 24 hours.
Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial
A lasting reminder that one life of service can inspire countless others
Phase 1: The Memorial Forest was completed in January 2025.
Click below to help build Phase 2: The Memorial Walkway.
All funds raised (after standard transaction fees) will be used solely for the creation, installation, and ongoing care of the Diaz Memorial. Please note that Hope Eternal Gardens is a for-profit organization, and donations are not tax-deductible.
Photo of Sgt. Elio Diaz (courtesy of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office).
About the Memorial
On December 15, 2024, Sgt. Elio Diaz was killed in the line of duty while serving with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. His loss deeply affected the community he protected for more than a decade.
In the months since his passing, friends, family, colleagues, and community members have come together with a shared desire to create something lasting in his honor. With the blessing of the Diaz family, this memorial is envisioned as a quiet place of reflection – a space where people can pause, honor his sacrifice, and carry forward the values he lived by: service, courage, and care for others
Thanks to generous community support, Phase 1: The Memorial Forest was completed in January 2025.
Now, we are raising funds to construct Phase 2: The Memorial Walk.
The Memorial Design
Group photo after the forest was planted, including the Diaz family, members of CCSO, and community volunteers (January 2025).
Above: Group photo after the forest was planted, including the Diaz family, members of CCSO, and community volunteers (January 2025).
About the Memorial Forest
The micro-forest is planted using the proven Miyawaki Method, developed by a botanist over 50 years ago and used to plant over 40 million trees around the world.
It continues to grow and evolve, offering a living memorial you can visit again and again—each season revealing new life, color, and transformation.
Day of Planting
After 8 months
After 20 years
Memorial Forest Planting Day
Working Together: Community Support Brings the Forest to Life
Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial
A lasting reminder that one life of service can inspire countless others
All funds raised (after standard transaction fees) will be used solely for the creation, installation, and ongoing care of the Diaz Memorial. Please note that Hope Eternal Gardens is a for-profit organization, and donations are not tax-deductible.