Beirut peacekeepers memorial tower under construction in Port Charlotte

PORT CHARLOT, Florida. On Wednesday, a new memorial will be erected in Port Charlotte to honor a young man and 240 others who died 40 years ago in a bombing attack on a Lebanese Marine base in Beirut.

Thousands of people drive past the William R. Gaines Young Veterans Memorial Park on Edgewater Drive every day.

However, the story of William “Bill” Gaines needs to be told.

Gaines turned 21 just a week before October 23, 1983.

When 241 US military personnel, including 220 Marines and 21 other military personnel, were killed by a truck bomb at a Marine Corps base in Beirut, Lebanon.

It was the deadliest attack on US Marines since the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

Although the park is named after Gaines, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Beirut Peacekeepers Memorial Tower is scheduled for Wednesday.

Peacekeepers Memorial Tower in Beirut

www.beirutpeacekeepers.org

Stephen Deutsch, Charlotte County Commissioner, is leading much of this project.

He says the county, along with the state, has already paid for some of the layers in Gaines Park, including the playground, and the Gold Star Memorial to share displays in honor of rescuers and veterans.

Deutsch says they still need $1.5 million to complete the three-story tower that will tell future generations about Bill Gaines and his life of just 21 years, but a legacy that should never be forgotten.

Beirut peacekeepers memorial tower under construction in Port Charlotte

Groundbreaking Ceremony: Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 10:00 am.

Charlotte County will host a special groundbreaking event located at the William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park in Port Charlotte to begin construction on the Beirut Peacekeepers Tower at 10:00 am Wednesday.

Turnell “Chip” Shields is one of those who was injured and survived. Chip served 20 years in the Marines and Reserves before joining the Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue Service in Florida. After 28 years as a firefighter/paramedic, Chip retired in the summer of 2021.

At the groundbreaking, Chip will share his personal story of service to his country and community, as well as the meaning of the Beirut Peacekeepers Tower to him and other Beirut veterans who served during the peacekeeping mission. It is a story of grace and dedication to serving others.

Chip is a board member of the William R. Gaines, Jr. Veterans Memorial Fund. He was part of a public-private partnership between Charlotte County and the State of Florida to help build this tower. Bill Gaines Jr. was a Charlotte County Marine who was among the 241 killed on October 23rd. The park is dedicated to veterans and first responders, highlighting their connection to protecting our freedoms. Information about the park can be found at wrgainesjr.org.

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