PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – A heated debate has Punta Gorda’s City Council divided. Vietnam veterans are proposing to move a medevac Huey helicopter from the Military Heritage Museum to the Vietnam Wall of SWFL. Right now, the piece of history isn’t going anywhere. A 3-2 vote against the proposal means the chopper will remain at its temporary home. The debate is heated and emotional on both sides. Medevac Hueys were a place many veterans spent their final moments, that’s why some want the chopper at the wall. Others told city councilors the sight brings back terrible memories making it difficult to even sleep at night. “It’s a revenant place, and… memorabilia does not belong in the park. That belongs in places like the military heritage museum,” Councilwoman Nancy Prafke said of the idea. Bob Fritz spoke at the public comment portion of the city council meeting. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for it to go there. The focus of that should be the Vietnam wall completely. The 58,000 plus names on it who died in service to their country,” Fritz said. “I think the Huey there would be a distraction. I think it belongs where it is right now at the military heritage museum.” Bill Akins is the director of fundraising for the Vietnam Wall of SWFL. He disagrees. “We always wanted to have a Huey there,” Akins said. “When this one came available and because it is the medevac, 99% of the people on that wall took their last ride in that Huey, medevac Huey. I think it’s very fitting to be part of the display there.” Councilors John Miller and Jaha Cummings attempted two motions to approve moving the artifact. Both failed to get a majority. “I felt like this was a setback. This is something that was really desired by the veteran community and it’d be sad to have the Huey go to another community,” Cummings said. The district one representative, Cummings serves in many roles within the veteran community. While three of his fellow council members received various comments against the proposal, Cummings said he did not get that sentiment. “If it had been a regular I can be understanding but this is literally the vehicle that rescued so many veteran’s lives. I think it’s a very symbolic motion and having this as its final resting place is a very strong symbol,” Cummings said. Retired Major General Richard Carr is the president of the Vietnam Wall of SWFL and a Vietnam veteran. He’s one of the few spearheading this project. He said they won’t give up. “Well, I was not really surprised. From the very beginning I knew there were challenges and a lot of unanswered questions,” Carr said. “We’ll get there. We’ll get there I hope…. I will work with the mayor now and see, get her ideas, and see if we can’t proceed from there.” If the city council does bring the topic back up for discussion at any point, one thing they’ll have to decide is where to put the Huey. Originally, Carr and other veterans wanted to place it next to the pond.