The Vietnam War. There, in the jungles more than nine thousand miles away, America lost what it had cherished the most, its innocence.

Upon returning home, The American Soldier was not about to lay down their very souls and surrender to a country void of loyalty and devotion. Honoring the ultimate sacrifice of 76 young men from South West Florida, veteran’s organizations, community citizens and local contractors unite to build a Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Lee County.

“Return to Sender” reveals commitment to brotherhood, the painful reality of motherhood, and a deeper meaning to neighborhood. Witness the relentless task of building this special memorial.

     Watch as the Memorial comes to  life in this amazing and
cinemagraphic 26 minute documentary.

We are asking the publis for letters from soldiers.To share all or part of a letter from Vietnam for the memorial, call Craig Tonjes at 239-482-6903 Donations can be made to Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 594 Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 9325, Fort Myers, FL 33902.

The Film

“RETURN TO SENDER”

Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Southwest Florida

SYNOPSIS

  All wars leave unanswered questions, but those of the Vietnam War have been diverse for America.  This war, it seems, is an inflamed wound it still hurts to touch. No yellow ribbons greeted the young soldiers who fought this unpopular war.

  In 1982 a black granite wall was erected in our nation’s capital. Sandblasted into it, the names of over 58,000 men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Although controversial, this monument had begun the healing of a nation.

  In 2008, in Fort Myers Florida, sit beside Alfreda Luckey, a mother, as she opens a trunk resting patiently at the foot of her bed, unopened for 30 years. A simple wooden box filled with tangible evidence sent to her from a jungle hell. Her son Jimmy’s personal belongings inside. Listen as she reads aloud letters he received from her just days before he was killed.

     Today, with the efforts of Vietnem Veterans Chapter 594, South West Florida would erect its own healing memorial. Here in Lee County, under the Veterans Parkway Bridge, contractors from our 5 county areas eagerly jumped at the opportunity to contribute to such a profound project. Follow the memorials construction from conception to reality and walk alongside this relentless journey of contribution and honor.

  Discover that “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.” VVA statement