Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial moving to Cape Coral

The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial is on the move. You’ve probably seen it near the Midpoint Bridge on the way to Cape Coral. But now, they’re going to move it.

It features 80 names and each comes with a story about fighting in the Vietnam War. Some of these stories ended with the ultimate sacrifice. That is why the Southwest Florida Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial means so much to Carol Rae Culliton.

“You hear of so many people who have lost family members and so it touches your heart,” Culliton said.

Plans to improve McGregor and Colonial Boulevards threaten the memorial. So Culliton and the Veterans Midpoint Memorial Trust wants to move the monument over the bridge to Cape Coral’s Four Mile Cove.

“To bring it here to the Cape with all the other monuments just makes sense and therefore it’s a good investment for my community,” she said.

From Iwo Jima to the Korean War, the Vietnam War Memorial will join many others in honoring our veterans. This park is one of Antony Solar’s favorite places to visit.

“I like seeing all the monuments for a hard-working veterans,” Solar said. The new placement offers more parking and a pavilion to host ceremonies.

Trish and Robert perry say the site makes them feel more connected to their loved ones. “What I really loved is my father was a merchant marine, too petty officer World War II so it’s very rare to see a merchant Marine monument so that was very nice to see,” Trish said.

“My dad was in the Navy and it’s kind of cool to see all the different services representative here,” said Robert.

The Veterans Midpoint Memorial Charitable Trust is in the process of taking donations. If you would like to donate, you have a couple of options. Donations can be mailed to VMMCT AT P.O Box 153020, Cape Coral, FL 33915. You can stop by any Fifth Third Bank Location in Southwest Florida with cash, a check or credit card and deposit to VMMCT.

If you have any additional questions, you can call VMMCT ‘s president Gary Bowler at 239-549-2822 or email at vmmctccfl@gmail.com.

In total, the move will cost about $50,000.