On Veterans Day there is no better way to honor and remember our valiant men and women of the U.S. Military by touring a special place where you can learn, honor, and remember America’s long-lasting heritage of 250 years of freedom, faith, and liberty.
The Military Heritage Museum in Punta Gorda is home of the Gulf Theater that brings 250 years of American military history to life through immersive exhibits, historic artifacts, veteran-led tours, and live performances. It’s an award-winning destination. Check out their website: https://militaryheritagemuseum.org and experience the museum’s virtual tour.
The Military Heritage Museum first opened its doors to the public in Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda on Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7, 2001. The goal of the Museum — then as now — is to honor veterans from all branches and eras of U.S. military service and to help the general public better understand the contributions and various experiences of American servicemen and women through authentic artifacts and individual stories.
From the start, individual veterans and numerous veteran groups enthusiastically supported the Museum. They generously donated their own personal artifacts and funding; helped build display cases, paint walls, and lay carpet; and volunteered as docents.
Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr., the famed pilot of the “Enola Gay,” the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan, agreed to serve as the Museum’s initial honorary chairman, a position he held until his death in 2007. At that point, Sean O’Keefe, a former Secretary of the Navy and former NASA Administrator, took over the role and continues to serve to this day.
Within six years of its grand opening, the Museum had grown significantly in artifacts, financial support, popularity within the community, and annual number of visitors, who now hail from all 50 states and other countries. This led to a move in 2007 to a larger space within Fishermen’s Village that could accommodate the growth. This marked the Museum’s first significant transformation into a more professionally managed museum.
In 2013, the Museum expanded again, this time adding space on the second floor above the exhibit area to provide a conference center (available for rent), a military research library, administrative offices, and storage.
As the Military Heritage Museum continued to grow in popularity, it gained a reputation among tourists and the local community as Southwest Florida’s most treasured museum, in large part because of its personal touch. Veterans lead all tours and offer visitors a unique perspective and understanding of key moments in history that cannot be obtained from a textbook.
In November 2018, the Museum obtained a lease on a new, larger facility in expectation of delivering on the next stage of its vision: the ability to showcase more of its authentic, one-of-a-kind artifact collection and enhance its exhibits and docent-led tours with the latest in video displays, interactive capabilities, and touchscreen technologies.
The new facility opened on April 16, 2019. The goal remains the same: to honor America’s military veterans, to educate and inspire current and future generations of Americans, and to remind everyone that “Freedom Isn’t Free.”
To honor our Sabal Springs Veterans, two group photos were taken in front of the Clubhouse last month. We are humbled to salute the following residents who served our country with honor.
| Name | Rank | Branch of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Gerry Arenstein | LTC | Army Reserve |
| John B. Baas | E4 | Marines |
| Tom Bacome | Petty Officer Second Class | Navy |
| Maurice Bell | Spec 3 | Army |
| Robert Bennett Jr. | E5 | Army |
| John Bowen | Airman | Air Force |
| Arthur F. Boyles | E3 PFC | Army |
| Cheryl Brackin | Staff Sergeant E6 | Army |
| Jim Brackin | Staff Sergeant E5 | Air Force |
| Norb Brand | DP3 | Naval Air |
| Richard Breniser | Lt. Commander | Navy |
| Melvin Brooke | Captain | Army |
| Greg Brown | Sergeant | Air Force |
| Terry Brown | PM3 | Navy |
| Anthony Cantabene | Sgt E5 | Army |
| Judith DeSantis | Lt. Colonel | Army |
| James Dickover | EM1SS | Navy |
| C. “Dean” Easton | DT2 | Navy |
| Steven Evans | Army | |
| Arnold Farley | Spec 4 | Army |
| Roger Frantz | Staff Sergeant | Marines |
| Tom Goldsmith | Corporal | Marines |
| Leonard Hallesy | E3 | Navy |
| Nancy Hancock | Sergeant | Air Force |
| Steve Harnois | PFC 1st Class | Navy |
| Ed Herrgard | E3 | Marines |
| Gregory Jessup | Colonel | Army |
| Jacob Katz | Airman 2C | Air Force |
| Terry Lavalley | Staff Sergeant | Air Force |
| John H. Linehan | PFC | Army |
| Joseph Madison | Second Class Petty Officer | Coast Guard |
| Robert Masson | Sergeant | Marines |
| Russell Mattson | Staff Sergeant | Army/Army Reserves |
| Doug Mazurek | Sergeant | Army |
| John McCloskey | E3 | Navy |
| William Thomas McKinney | SP4 | Army |
| Bruce P. Mericle | HM3 | Navy |
| Stephen Miles | Lt. Commander | Navy |
| Milton Jerry Mounts Jr. | Airman 2nd Class | Air Force |
| Jack Noble | E5 | Army |
| Linda Pechstein | HN | Navy |
| Gary Petrucci | Spec 4 | Army |
| Leo Pierson | Spec 4 | Army |
| Robert Pirrello | Sergeant | Marines |
| Salvitor Provenzano | E5 | Army |
| Frank Rabena | Senior Master Sergeant | Air Force |
| John R. Red | Sergeant | Airforce |
| Paul Reitmeier | Airman 1st | Air Force |
| Herm Remus | Sergeant | Airforce |
| Donald Rhodes | PFC | Army |
| William Sarbo | Army | |
| Frank Shamel | Yeoman First Class | Navy |
| Bill Simkins | ETN3 | Navy |
| George S. Sinko | MSG – E8, 18D | Army Special Forces |
| Lawrence (Larry) Smith Jr. | E4 Airman 1st Class | Air Force |
| Ronald Stahl | Sergeant E5 | Army |
| John Stewart | Army | |
| Dave Striebel | Sergeant | Army |
| Gerry Suhr | E4 | Air Force |
| Dean Tracy | E5 | Navy |
| Joe Vukelich | SN | Navy |
| Alan P. Wier | EN2/SS | Navy Submarine Service |
| Donald Williams | Radioman Third Class | Navy |
| Donald E. Wills | SP4-E4 | Army |
| Dieter Winterle | Sergeant | Air Force |
| James Wistehuff | E5 | Army |
(Editor’s Note: If we inadvertently missed anyone, please send your information to [email protected] and we will update the list and republish this article on Veterans Day, November 11.)
