Ceremony at Eco Park’s Iraq War Star Monument lends shine to veteran efforts

Aug 16, 2022 By CJ HADDAD 5 min read

A moving ceremony over the weekend in the backdrop of Cape Coral’s statuary ode to the military saw veterans honored for their service, as well as a special announcement.

The Iraq War Star Monument at Eco Park’s Veteran Memorial Area was filled and had its final dog tags placed to honor the brave men and women who served during the conflict.

The ceremony was made possible thanks to U.S. Army PFC Michelle Rosenberger, who has honored Iraq War vets since 2013.

Being honored and remembered were Marine CPL Bradley Holbrook who served in Desert Storm and passed in May; Gen. Raymond Odierno who passed of cancer last year; Gen. Ann Dunwoody, the first and only female 4-Star general in any armed service; MSG Shauna Curry; and Army APC Johnny Cash.

Retired Army Sgt. Major Daniel Daily was on hand and placed his tags, along with Odierno’s.

“It was one of the most moving events I have attended,” said Cape Coral City Councilmember Gloria Tate, who also spoke at the ceremony.

Also in attendance to pay homage were Air Force Cpt. Wayne Smith who served in Vietnam and was a POW for five years, as well as Army Chief Officer and President of the Women’s Memorial in Washington D.C. Phyllis Wilson.

Prior to the ceremony, a group of volunteers corralled by Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter worked to bring new life to the Iraq War Star Monument. Due to natural wear-and-tear, some of the dog tags that adorn the monument had become dislodged, or even fallen off. Some of the marble was in rough shape and overall, it needed some work.

Among the volunteers was Iraq War Army Veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Sgt. Mike Lipari.

Lipari said Gunter called him on a Saturday, asked what he was doing, and wanted to know if he’d come down to Eco Park to help refurbish the star. Lipari said yes, and a group of about five spent the afternoon working hard.

“One woman who had volunteered, her husband was killed on active-duty. He was a Navy commander,” Lipari said. “And she came out there and cleaned, polished, and re-placed the dog tags on the monument. She made it so it would last for generations to come.”

Lipari, who served 22 years in the Army and whose dog tags are on the monument, said the ceremony was impactful and, as a veteran, he’s proud to see this happening in the city where he was born and raised.

“It’s just amazing to be one of the very first Iraq War monuments in our nation and in our state,” Lipari said. “As a resident of Cape Coral, it is a reminder that we will never forget those men and women who served our country. Regardless of your political affiliation, regardless of what your beliefs are, we served at a time and a place far away for others. And that’s what America is about and what Cape Coral is about moving forward – that regardless of who you are and your beliefs, we are a city for everyone and we will never let our veterans forget that.”

New outreach for veterans in Cape Coral

Lipari also is taking on a new endeavor striving to help veterans in Cape Coral gain access to resources they need.

Lipari, along with work from Gunter, is creating a new veteran resource office in City Hall that will operate once per week, most likely on Fridays.

“It’s going to be a great resource for veterans in Cape Coral to let them know what they have,” Lipari said. “Everything from a discount to play golf, to medical, to mortgage brokers and more.”

Lipari said as a veteran he knows how difficult it can be obtaining the right information and knowing all of the benefits that are out there. He mentioned the Veterans Affairs office in Cape Coral — one of the largest clinics in the VA system.

Lipari said every day veterans in Cape Coral are asking what benefits and assistance programs are available for them locally.

Wanting to do something to assist his fellow men and women that have served, he went to the mayor and told him his vision over lunch

Gunter, on board, asked who would run it? Lipari said he would.

He gave an example of how impactful some assistance can be for veterans and their families, and told of a young woman that called the mayor and said her father is a veteran suffering from dementia. They were looking for home health services and were in the VA Heathcare system, but did not know how to go about obtaining the service. Gunter reached out and got the ball rolling for them. Lipari said helping local veterans and veteran families navigate the waters is the goal of the new office.

With the Lee County VA closed since COVID-19, they are only taking phone messages that can often go long periods of time without answers.

Lipari said he has been in touch with VA outreach in Cape Coral and they are willing to help provide resources.

“We’re going to have a plethora of information at the office for the citizens of Cape Coral, “People who are full-timers, part-timers, regardless they are citizens of our city, and they are veterans. They are the one percent who served our country and we owe this to them, we really do.”

“There are a lot of things that the city of Cape Coral offers that people don’t know about,” Lipari said, mentioning that the Cape is a Purple Heart City, all of visible veteran monuments, and local programs and organizations. “We just want the veterans to know that we are truly a veteran-friendly city. We don’t just say it. We are it. We put our money where our mouth is.”

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To reach CJ HADDAD, please email news@breezenewspapers.com