Vietnam Memorial Steps Closer to Reality

In 2020 two men, Lee Rubenstein and Bill Duncan of the American Legion Post 404 came up for an idea for a Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Marco Island. After a long five years of planning and designing, the Marco Island City Council has greenlighted American Legion Post 404’s final plans for a memorial sculpture honoring Veterans, with a specific nod to those who fought and gave their life in Vietnam. 

The approval by Council on October 20th was met with celebration by the team behind the scenes, who have not ceased in their efforts to make this memorial a reality.  

“Our Legion members all experienced a sigh of relief, that further stimulated the energy to construct this beautiful memorial,” said Joseph Varano and Terry Kehoe. 

The detailsrequired to draft, model, and create this sculpture have been a learning process for the dedicated teamcomprised of both seasonal and full-time residents. 

“We experienced a ‘bump in the road’ during the planning phase, which caused us to relocate the Memorial from its original designated location to a more favorable, environmentally secure location. This change did not hinder our plan since it was ultimately acceptable by the City.” 

When discussing the labor that has been poured into this project with Kehoe and Varano, their passion for this sculpture and its surroundings is personal. Having both served in Vietnam, they want to honor their fellow comrades who made it back and for those who did not. This includes the many Scout Dogs who served to alert soldiers of enemy nearby, saving thousands of lives through the process. 

The fundraising support from the Marco Island community over the last five years has been instrumental in keeping things on track. Through purchased benches with dedication plaques, pavers with personal inscriptions, and generous donations, supporters have rallied to the cause.Kehoe has been responsible forkeeping these organized and spends time daily to ensure everyone’s names and dedications areaccurate, bold, and legible.  

Now the American Legion Post 404 needs your continued help and support to cross the finish line! Additional benches and pavers are available and ready for you to secure your spot on Marco Island to remember a loved one, honor a Veteran, and show your support of the troops.