{"id":278419,"date":"2026-05-20T18:35:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T18:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/278419\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T18:35:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T18:35:26","slug":"a-day-to-honor-the-fallen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/278419\/","title":{"rendered":"A day to honor the fallen"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Coral Ridge Cemetery in Cape Coral is among several Southwest Florida locations with Memorial Day tributes planned to honor the heroism and sacrifices made on behalf of the U.S. -CASEY BRADLEY GENT \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

Solitary bells will ring, pipes and drums will play, as Southwest Floridians and Americans nationwide recognize Memorial Day on Monday, May 25.\n<\/p>\n

Observed on the last Monday of May to honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military, the holiday was originally known as Decoration Day. It originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.\n<\/p>\n

Americans observe Memorial Day by attending ceremonies, visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades to honor the sacrifice of service members who have died protecting our freedoms.\n<\/p>\n

Events are planned throughout Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Cape Coral and up to Charlotte County and beyond.\n<\/p>\n

For individuals looking to gather in remembrance, each city has something inspiring to offer.\n<\/p>\n

Charlotte County<\/p>\n

Charlotte County\u2019s most moving monument \u2014 established on behalf of the veterans\u2019 community \u2014 is the Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida, located in Punta Gorda\u2019s Laishley Park.\n<\/p>\n

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Military Heritage Museum, Punta Gorda. -COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n

Dick Carr, a fighter pilot who served three tours in Vietnam, is president of the nonprofit charged with the care of the memorial wall.\n<\/p>\n

Carr paused for nearly a minute before stating what Memorial Day means to him.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are 58,323 names on that wall. Friends of mine. Acquaintances of mine,\u201d the 88-year-old shared. \u201cBut I learned, after guiding family members to the names of their loved ones on this wall, that there are not 58,323 names. Instead, there are 58,323 stories. Stories of people we lost. And no two stories are the same. Memorial Day, of course, is the day when we honor those stories.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

In a follow-up conversation, County Commissioner Stephen R. Deutsch revealed, \u201cIt is Gen. Dick Carr. He doesn\u2019t always say the \u2018General\u2019 part. He was an ace \u2014 quite the pilot in his day.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Carr said that he hopes people will attend a Memorial Day remembrance at the Military Heritage Museum, \u201cwhich is just a mile down the road from our wall.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The museum\u2019s Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony runs from 11:30 a.m. to noon and is free and open to the public. Appearing will be a guest speaker: Phillip Schofield, corporal (retired) in the United States Marine Corps, and a MOS of 5811-Military Police Officer. Color Guard Detachment 756 Charlotte County will present colors. There is no charge to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony.\n<\/p>\n

Museum exhibits and galleries will be open from noon to 4 p.m. SipWell Lemon Aid and Dirty Dogs food trucks will be on site throughout the day. Huey helicopter cockpit tours are offered from 12:30-2:30 p.m.\n<\/p>\n

At 1 p.m. in the Gulf Theater, a military living historian \u2014 first-person reenactor Donald Taylor (U.S. Army and Coast Guard \u2014 will portray a U.S. Berdan\u2019s sharpshooter (aka USSS). \u201cBerdan\u201d sharpshooters were two regiments of crack\u00a0marksmen recruited from eight states based on their ability to pass an exacting marksmanship test. A Memorial Day documentary and a 3D movie will be shown at 2 p.m.\n<\/p>\n

Admission to the museum is $18 for adults, $14 for veterans $14, and $5 for children. Gold Star families always receive free admission.\n<\/p>\n

Lee County<\/p>\n

In Bonita Springs, a Memorial Day Celebration is planned for the Liles Hotel Lawn, 27300 Old 41 Road, beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, May 25. The keynote speaker for the event is Ray Sandelli, a former Lee County Commissioner and U.S. Navy pilot who served during the Middle East War in 1973, the Cyprus Conflict in 1974, and as a Blue Angels demonstration pilot in 1977 and \u201978.\n<\/p>\n

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Liles Hotel in Bonita Springs is the site of one of Southwest Florida\u2019s Memorial Day services to honor veterans who sacrificed their lives for the United States. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually, when I attend these types of events, there is someone in uniform standing next to me with a lot of stars and rank,\u201d Sandelli said. \u201cI was just a lieutenant.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

He is well-known locally for his service in public office. Being asked to speak at Bonita Springs\u2019 Memorial Day event is humbling, he said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are the right words?\u201d Sandelli wondered aloud. \u201cI know I want to acknowledge that Memorial Day is about loss of life, and I keep coming back to time. There never seems to be enough time in this life.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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Ray Sandelli, Navy Veteran, is the keynote speaker for The Memorial Day Event in Bonita Springs on the Liles Hotel lawn. -CASEY BRADLEY GENT \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

The former Blue Angels pilot reflects on soldiers whose lives were taken too soon, how those soldiers missed out on having children, or not, and on growing old. The families of fallen soldiers miss out as well.\n<\/p>\n

Sandelli is deeply tanned. His green eyes flash when he speaks, and for every minute he has lived life on this earth, he has lived fully, outdoors, with his wife Jan and three grown children, as a servant to the community.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was in college, my father called me and said I had better come home. So, I did. Home wasn\u2019t too far. My father took me to the funeral home, and I had to look at the body of our former neighbor.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Sandelli\u2019s childhood neighbor, Chip Patrone, was killed in Vietnam at the age of 20. Sandelli intends to remind fellow citizens of the sacrifices made by soldiers like Patrone.\n<\/p>\n

Fort Myers and Cape Coral have multiple events planned to commemorate Memorial Day. The annual service at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, 1589 Colonial Blvd, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 25. This event often includes a military flyover, but details were unavailable at the time of this printing.\n<\/p>\n

In Cape Coral, Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery, 950 Chiquita Blvd. S., will host its 42nd annual Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. Prior to Monday\u2019s events, on Saturday, May 23, at 8 a.m., volunteers will place flags over the graves of veterans buried at Memorial Gardens. Also in The Cape, the Brotherhood of Heroes Resource Center and Museum, 4522 Del Prado Ave., will host a remembrance gathering from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include the ringing of a ship\u2019s bell to honor the fallen. Food will accompany the event.\n<\/p>\n

Collier County<\/p>\n

Marco Island will host an event at Veterans Community Park, 901 Park Ave., Marco Island, starting at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, we will have the honor guard. We will also ring a fire bell, one time for each veteran who was part of our post who passed this year,\u201d planned John Apolzan, retired Army sergeant and current commander of Marco Island American Legion Post 404.\n<\/p>\n

Apolzan is focused on a much larger event scheduled for this fall on Veterans\u2019 Day, though he emphasized the somber importance of Memorial Day and the need to take time to specifically \u201chonor those honorable men and women who lost their lives before or after serving their country.\u201d He added, \u201cWe will be dedicating our Marco Island Vietnam War Memorial in November, to specifically honor those who served in Vietnam.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Delivery of six statues, which will be placed in Veterans Park, could occur as soon as June, Apolzan said. However, he has invited Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials to the official dedication in November. Each statue is an authentic representation of an American soldier and will be permanently placed at Veterans Community Park.\n<\/p>\n

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Marco Island Vietnam War Memorial rendering of the work in progress. -COURTESY IMAGE<\/p>\n

Carr, Sandelli and Apolzan are area veterans who have stated that they each plan to honor fallen soldiers \u2014 heroes and friends \u2014 this Memorial Day. In addition to honoring the dead and remembering lives lost, Memorial Day may also be a reminder of just how good it feels to be part of something. In communities throughout Southwest Florida, opportunities will be abundant on Memorial Day for anyone who wishes to be part of something bigger than themselves.\n<\/p>\n

As Sandelli stated: \u201cLet\u2019s not forget what Memorial Day is really about. It is about loss. It is about remembering.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

In The KNOW:\n<\/p>\n

Memorial Day ceremonies throughout Southwest Florida\n<\/p>\n

CHARLOTTE COUNTY\n<\/p>\n

Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida: Visit the Memorial located in Laishley Park, at 100 Nesbit St., Punta Gorda.
\nMilitary Heritage Museum: Honor Memorial Day at 11:30 a.m., 900 W. Marion Ave., Building B, Punta Gorda. The museum will be open from noon to 4 p.m., Monday, May 25.<\/p>\n

LEE COUNTY\n<\/p>\n

Fort Myers Memorial Gardens: 1589 Colonial Blvd., ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 25.
\nCoral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery: At 950 Chiquita Blvd. S., Cape Coral, the 42nd annual Memorial Day service begins at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25.
\nCoral Ridge Cemetery: On Saturday, May 23, at 8 a.m., volunteers will place flags over the graves of veterans buried at Memorial Gardens.
\nBrotherhood of Heroes Resource Center and Museum: 4522 Del Prado Ave., Cape Coral, will host a remembrance gathering from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, May 25.
\nBonita Springs: A Memorial Day Celebration is planned for the Liles Hotel Lawn, 27300 Old 41 Road, beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, May 25.<\/p>\n

COLLIER COUNTY\n<\/p>\n

Collier County Veterans Council: A Memorial Day Service is scheduled at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Ave. N., Naples, beginning at 10 a.m., Monday, May 25, with a musical prelude at 9:30 a.m. by the Pine Ridge Middle School Symphonic Band.
\nVeteran\u2019s Community Park, 901 Park Ave., Marco Island, hosts a Memorial Day event starting at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25.
\nAmerica\u2019s Military and First Responders Museum: Visit the museum located in Collier County Government Complex, 3331 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Coral Ridge Cemetery in Cape Coral is among several Southwest Florida locations with Memorial Day tributes planned to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":276327,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[209,211,210],"class_list":["post-278419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral-headlines","tag-cape-coral-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278419\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=278419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=278419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}