PUNTA GORDA, Fla. Hundreds of middle school students visited the new Vietnam Memorial Wall at Laishley Park for the first time Thursday. More than 200 eighth grade students from L.A. Ainger Middle School had the opportunity to hear local veterans share their experiences. “I think it’s important to the kids to know this stuff and to know what we went through,” said veteran Stephen Demuele. Students were each given a card with a picture and name of a veteran they had to find on the wall. Once they did, the magnitude of the sacrifice those service members made set in for many. “It’s really sad to see like how many people died, but it’s also really great to see how many people fought for their country,” said student Izabella Ferjiani. The Vietnam Wall Education Foundation hopes to raise enough money to organize trips for all eighth graders in Charlotte County and in nearby counties.