By FRANK DIFIORE Staff Writer
Ken Wint, from Gold Star Families, spoke of his brother Capt. Walter E. Wint Jr. — another Marine killed in Beirut. Capt. Wint was Gaines’ superior officer at the time of the bombing.By FRANK DIFIORE Staff Writer
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell called the new memorial “a place where law enforcement, firefighters and EMS will stand together as one. Don’t focus on how they died; remember how they lived."Betsy Calvert and Frank DiFiore contributed to this article.
Cutting through the early morning fog on New Year’s Eve, over 170 runners gathered in position at the William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park.Freedom Run Registration opens at 7am
December 30, 2021
Registration will begin for the race at 7am on Dec. 31.
By BETSY CALVERT
Visitors can view memorials at Edgewater Drive park2nd Annual Freedom Run 5K - Dec 31 @ 9am
November 30, 2021
Join us for one of the last 5k's of the year and let's leave 2021 in the dust! The race will start and end at the William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park. All proceeds will go toward the Beirut Peacekeepers Memorial Tower.
9am start time
9am start time
By BETSY CALVERT Staff Writer
Progress took a big leap on Veterans Day at the Williams R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park with the unveiling of a $100,000 check from a late World War II veteran. Charlotte Sun Article, By BETSY CALVERT Staff WriterVeterans Day Groundbreaking for New Memorials
November 11, 2021
The symbolism between these two memorials connects the mission of those who served as multi-national peacekeepers in Beirut from 1982 to 1984. Their mission to provide both military and first responder type services to provide a blanket of freedom in foreign land represent the American spirit.