On this Memorial Day, veterans groups throughout southwest Florida are taking part in ceremonies to remember fallen soldiers. Vietnam vet—and Fort Myers resident—Bill Fields saw lots of fellow soldiers die on the front lines. Fields was in Vietnam for 2 years—where his duties ranged from machine gunner and grenade launcher to radio operator and map reader.
What may be most compelling about Fields’ experience is that he’s a pacifist. He was back then. Yet, he found himself in the second most active outfit in Vietnam. We asked Fields to share his unique perspective on Memorial Day…

He holds a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. These days, he runs a solar energy company. You can read more about him in this month’s “Expressions…” WGCU’s member magazine.

Three recently fallen soldiers from Lee County were honored at the Old County Courthouse in Fort Myers Friday. The ceremony was attended by a number of officials, friends and family members. The names of the men - all 3 from Cape Coral – will be added to the Veterans Memorial Plaque in front of the courthouse. Hear from: Lee County Commissioner, Doug St. Cerny – Dr. Eleanor Scricca, Chair of the Lee County School Board - Junior ROTC instructor at Cape Coral High School, Major Donald Best – and Kira Lopez, wife of Corporal Manuel Lopez the third. Mike Kiniry is our producer. (AUDIO)

People move to southwest Florida for all sorts of reasons… sunshine, water, gainful employment. All three are true for commentator Debbie Jamieson. But the real reason she chose Punta Gorda: its connection to history. A former newspaper editor, Debbie Jamieson now teaches a self-development course and is learning to play the harp. She lives in Punta Gorda. Learn more about the highs and lows of that community’s history tonight on WGCU Public Television. “Punta Gorda: Florida Frontier Town”—makes its debut this evening at 8:30. (AUDIO)

More than 50 years have passed since Brown vs. the Board of Education and many Floridians can’t remember a time when the state’s schools weren’t integrated – or the struggles that took place to bring integration about. But historians are working to create an oral history of those turbulent times – and preserve it for posterity. Earlier this month the DeSoto County Historical Society held a panel discussion on the desegregation process there. Valerie Alker was there and has this report. (AUDIO)

Thomas Alva Edison is synonymous with wizardry and invention. During the late 19th century, he was one of the most celebrated people in the world. His second wife, Mina Miller also made her own lasting impression – especially in Fort Myers, where the Edisons spent their winters. To hear more about Mina Miller Edison’s life and her time in Fort Myers, watch Untold Stories “The Wizard’s Wife” tonight at 9:00 on WGCU-TV. Kathleen Moye has more. (AUDIO)

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