though, so he and a group of other veterans and volunteers set out to have their own wall
made. In doing so, a nonprofi t corporation called The Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida,
Inc. was created.
In less than two years more than $650,000 was raised to create the wall. Part of the
money came from the city of Punta Gorda, some came from the state, but much of the
money came from private donations. To keep the feel of the wall as authentic as possible,
its creators contacted a Georgia granite and bronze company to do the work, using the
same black granite that was used to make the full-sized wall in Washington, D.C.
This memorial that honors the ultimate sacrifi ce of 58,000 men and woman who died in
the Vietnam War is in a particularly poignant place, as Southwest Florida is home to a large
amount of veterans. There are numerous park benches placed along the wall which serve
those who come for quiet contemplation, and there is a fountain as well. The wall and its
surroundings are beautifully lit up at night.
Patriots Park, Venice
800 Venetia Bay Blvd., Venice
(941) 861-5000
Park hours 6 a.m. to midnight
This park features a two-ton I-beam from
the World Trade Center, and a piece of the
Pentagon.
Every year, since it was built, activities
on Memorial Day and Veterans Day have
been conducted. There is currently a plan
to connect it to the Legacy Trail, since it is
only a block away. Patriots Park is listed on
the National site as a 9/11 memorial.
Amenities include bicycling, dogfriendly
grounds (leash required),
picnicking, restrooms, paved trail.
This property is surrounded by a
beautiful small lake, features a “freedom
walk” paved trail, and it features a 9-11
memorial dedicated to honoring our
fallen military heroes who have been
killed in the war on terrorism.
This park is known as a very small, but
very reverent, memorial.
Patriots Park is a solemn testament to what
happened on September 11, 2001.