PUNTA GORDA Fla.- More than a hundred war veterans and honored guests gathered in Punta Gorda today for the re-dedication of a memorial for wounded veterans.  For veterans like Felix De Rosa, this day has been a long time coming. It's a good day.  I couldn't be happier to be amongst them all", said De Rosa.  Veterans like De Rosa and others from wars past and present,  turned out to see the wounded veterans memorial re-dedicated at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda. Including veteran service member Congressman Tom Rooney. "We want to make sure that we do everything that we can to not only them but but the community and the children that this is how we treat veterans in this country", said Rooney.
For years, the wounded warrior memorial sat at the corner of Cochran and 41 in Port Charlotte.  The problem is with the memorial at that location, there was no handicapped access for veterans like De Rosa who was shot in 1944 while serving in France and is now wheelchair bound.

Last year, the city of Punta Gorda came up with a plan.  Move the memorial to the veteran's garden at the Kewanis Park.  A spot where the original idea of putting in an eternal flame had fizzled out years ago.  "Im glad that i finally got it back here where it belongs , with the monuments", said De Rosa