The man famous for a record 19-mile skydive in the 1960s was honored Sunday with a park dedicated in his name.
Col. Joe Kittinger Park, 305 N. Crystal Lake Drive, features an F-4D Phantom jet, which has been refurbished and painted in the exact same colors of its glory days during the Vietnam War.
Kittinger flew the jet four times in combat missions.
Several local lawmakers attended the dedication ceremony, including Mayor Buddy Dyer and Congressman John Mica.
“Now there's going to be a plane that's adorn as it's sitting there on the (State Road) 408 and every day thousands of people are going to ride by and I hope it will remind them of those Vietnam veterans from our community,” Kittinger said.
He is also grateful to local residents for donating $130,000 to bring the jet here.