Punta Gorda’s Fisherman Village is a Florida tourist site filled with shops and restaurants along Charlotte Harbor. While a visitor can shop, eat, boat or fish, there is another stop they can also make.
At Fisherman’s Village, they can remember the men and women who served in the military, at the Military Heritage & Aviation Museum. It is unique in that it does not focus on just one branch of the military or one conflict. Its mission is “to promote an understanding and respect for the rich military heritage of the United States and the sacrifices made by our country’s veterans, living and dead, emphasizing that freedom is not free.”

Volunteer Dick Lehman, like many in the area, is a northerner turned local. This former teacher from Twinsburg, Ohio, said, “The museum started eight years ago. Veterans had a collection and started this museum. I’ve been with them for two years.”
Dick served in North Africa after World War II from 1946-47 where his branch took over from the French, then he also served in Hawaii during the Korean War.

The executive director of the museum is Kim Lovejoy, who served for three years in the U.S. Army, 15 in the Army Guard and the last seven in the Air National Guard. Serving in the Middle East her last few years, Kim recently retired and took over as executive director.
“We opened down the road on Veteran’s Day in 2001. This is our third and largest location,” she said.

Though not a big museum, it offers an amazing array of items. There are more than 50,000 military artifacts on display. The oldest dates back to the Spanish-American War and the latest is from the current conflict in Iraq.

There is something for everyone to see. The museum, Kim pointed out, is divided into sections. “The women’s section is getting more items,” she added.

There are many items that bring personal stories of veterans to life, allowing the visitor insight into what it was like to serve. “Lt. Carlson was a bombardier,” Kim said of one display. “He received awards for missions he flew.”

There was a map where he had outlined his flights, and areas were marked with a Swastika where he had shot down German planes. Another personal glimpse is the story of Lt. Ryan. Letters to his family share when he first left for the service; then, there are letters to the family that he is MIA; and later, the sad news that he passed away.

One of the most interesting and rather astounding items at the museum is the front page of a Pearl Harbor newspaper dated Nov. 30, 1941, with the headline screaming in bold letters: “Japanese May Strike Over Weekend Honolulu Harbor.”

A man had been in a military hospital where the newspapers had been distributed. The military came in and tore off all the front pages and took them away. The man instead placed his copy in his pocket and it is one of the few remaining today, Kim said.
The museum had a Navy training aid that was used to identify Japanese ships. The small battleships look more like a game than a training tool. “These were used in World War II,” she said. “There is one of planes, too.”

The museum has an example of a weapon from every war from World War II to present. “We have 12 Japanese rifles,” Kim said, pointing to a distinctive mark on one weapon. “The Chrysanthemum was the royal seal they had before the war.”
 A POW uniform from Vietnam veteran Luis Chirichingo was on display, and his story was chilling. “Luis Chirichingo was listed as killed in action,” Kim said. “He spent eight-and-a-half months shackled to a tiger cage. He was marched in these sandals that were made from tires.”

The new uniform was placed on him before his release. He donated it and sandals to the museum.

“Trench art” was a unique term used for items made while serving, and the museum has examples of this art in bracelets made from a Japanese Zero.
The museum is located at: Fishermen’s Village, Unit 48, 1200 West Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. To date the museum has had more than 7,500 visitors, including some from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, England, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia.

“The staff loves to share with visitors, and we welcome them,” Kim said.

The website www.mhaam.org closes with these words: “The admission is free. The experience is priceless.”

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.