West Saint Paul Antiques

Each Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the stories of the women cast in bronze come to life as veterands and other American patriots share their experiences “in their own voices.”

Through verse, prose and music, a tapestry of stories is woven by women who served in support of the Armed Forces: nurses, administrators, air traffic controllers, journalists, women who entertained troops as members of the USO and Red Cross, women who served in a variety of occupations around the world. Men who knew their sisters in war and have partnered with them to ensure healing and peace also share their stories in a compelling and educational way.

Children and families, women and men, Veterans and their friends are invited to attend this commemmoration of the sisters and daughters and mothers and wives who served during the Vietnam era.

Storytellers are featured every 15-30 minutes near the site of the Vietnam Womens’s Memorial (at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial) beginning at 8:30 and concluding at 4:45pm.

Australian & (ARVN) Army of the Republic of Vietnam Memorial, Dandenong

Monument Dedicated to Fallen Friends

By Tony Britt
Cordele Dispatch

The dedication ceremony was held at the Georgia Veterans’ Memorial State Park exhibit area and served as an opportunity for members of the 114th Aviation Company to honor their 70 friends who died in the Vietnam War.

During the ceremony, which featured military speakers from around the country a red granite memorial was unveiled in honor of the 70 men who died in Vietnam.

"Everything went perfect, couldn’t have been any better," said Tom Nesbitt, who was instrumental in having the monument placed at the park. "We thought we were going to get into a tight spot at the last minute and we were about five minutes late getting started, but everything came together. I think the Buglers and the Color Guard were the highlights of the ceremony. I think we had 35 people here from the 114th." 

As Chaplin Lt. Col. Charles Smith of the Dodge County JROTC program read the names of the 70 soldiers which had been inscribed in the memorial, a lone bagpiper played Amazing Grace. 

Several audience members, many with tears dropping from their eyes, saluted and stood at attention during this solemn portion of the program. 

As the a pair of buglers followed and played Taps in the background, a red-poppy Wreath was placed next to the new memorial by Clyde Scott and Ginger Shannon, wife of Ken Shannon who's name is on the memorial stone. Then Warner Robins American Legion post’s color guard unit fired a seven gun salute. 

Shortly after the ceremony, several audience members gathered around the new memorial looking for familiar names and offered their fallen loved ones a salute. 

Bob Bilshausen, a member of the 114th Association, came from Chicago, Ill., to attend the memorial dedication. "Today’s ceremony was very moving and fantastic," he said. "I wouldn’t have missed it."

"Tom Nesbitt did a heck of a job putting everything together," said Andy Anderson, a member of the 114th from Deland, Fla. "I just really appreciate it. Some of my friends names are etched on that memorial stone. I lost a lot of friends over there in Vietnam."

Nesbitt started the push to get a monument for the 114th Vietnam veterans at the park several years ago and worked until he and his friends made the monument a reality. 

Saturday, Nesbitt and his friends from Pennsylvania, Florida, Mississippi, Illinois, Georgia, and Texas, came together to pay homage to their fallen friends. 

"I think the people that were here are going to appreciate Veterans more," Nesbitt said. "After this ceremony, I think the people, who were here will have a better understanding of why they are able to walk around free and not take it for granted... like most people tend to do." 

This monument is the first monument to any specific group of veterans in Georgia Veterans’ Memorial State Park. 

"We can’t do enough for those guys," Nesbitt said of the 70 men from his company that lost their lives during the war. "They’re gone. They died young and they won’t ever have a family. This is just a little something, but we’ll keep on remembering them.” 

2 Tri-City GIS Killed In Recent Vietnam Fights. Two more Tri-City servicemen have been killed in Vietnam--bringing to 16 the number of local men killed in the conflict. Latest casualties are Spec. Robert A. Miller, 21, of 202 E. First Place, Kennewick, and Pvt. Steven Young, formerly of 1539 Thayer Drive, Richland. Miller, killed Saturday (25 May 1968), was home on leave six days earlier. He was assigned to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade near Saigon. He was reported killed by a booby trap while on a combat mission in the jungles near Saigon.
    Young's mother, Maxine Curry, moved to Yakima yesterday, three days after receiving notification of her son's death. Young was killed 17 May (1968) while on a military operation at Quang Nam, South Vietnam.
    A 1966 graduate of Kennewick High School, Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas D. Miller, was drafted by the Army in April 1967 and sent to Vietnam in October. He was a leading wrestler and during his senior year at Kennewick compiled a 23-0 record in the 130 pound weight division before loosing in the state finals. While home last week, Miller became engaged to his high school sweetheart, Kathy Wright, also of Kennewick. His father said Miller was hit by a mortar shell fragments in March, but was back in action the next day. During training, Miller received several trophies for his high scores in physical combat proficiency tests including a perfect 500 in leadership school at Fort Polk LA. The family said there will be a full military funeral. Three of his former wrestling coaches will serve as pallbearers. Other survivors are two brothers, Charles and Mike; sister Charlene, and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Albright, Ephrata. (Tri-Cities Herald, Pasco WA, 27 May 1968)

Robert A. Miller Services for Spec.4, Robert A. Miller, 21, who died 25 May (1968), in Vietnam, will be Friday at 10 am. at Mueller's Funeral Home, Kennewick. Virgil G. Iverson, Army Chaplain, will officiate. Military graveside services will follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Park. He was born 20 Jan 1947 at Mabton. Survivors include his parents; brothers, Charles, a student at the University of Washington, and Mike, Kennewick; a sister Charlene, Kennewick, and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Albright, Bridgeport. Contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Kennewick High School wrestling memorial fund, in care of Ron Snow. (Tri-Cities Herald, Pasco WA, June 1968)

Famlies Accept Posthumous Medals A Seattle housewife yesterday accepted decorations earned by her husband, Pfc. Leonard O. Graves, who died of combat wounds in Vietnam last September. Relatives of three other Washington servicemen also received decorations presented by Col. Harold N. Gilbert, Fort Lewis adjutant general at the post. Mrs. Kramer M. Graves, 959 1/2 20th Ave., received the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and Purple Heart earned by her husband. Graves, of the 25th Infantry Division, raced through Intense enemy fire to rescue another soldier.
  Mrs. Betty L. Scavella,Tacoma received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart earned by her husband, Master Sgt.
Allan N. Scavella.
  The Bronze Star and Purple Heart were presented to Mrs. Doris Miller, Kennewick, for her son, Spec. 4. Robert A. Whitney.
  Mr. and Mrs. Harry Petersen, Buckley, accepted the Bronze Star won by their son, Pfc. Harry A. Petersen.
  Earlier the Distinguished Service Cross was presented to Staff Sgt. William J. Lines, Tacoma, who led a volunteer platoon to aid another involved in a fierce firefight with Viet Cong. Lines, whose wife is the former Patricia Ross of Mercer Island, is now assigned to Company A., 4th Battalion.1st Brigade, at Fort Lewis. (Times, Seattle WA, 7 May 1969)

Booby Trap Kills Former Warden Youth
    Spec. 4 Robert A. Whitney, 21, a former warden resident, was killed last. week by a Viet Cong booby trap while serving with the Army in Vietnam, relatives have reported.
    The young man's uncle, Marvin Whitney of Moses Lake, said he was a member of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade.
    Whitney attended school in Warden from 1959 to 1961 and was a graduate of the High school in Kennewick where he was an outstanding wrestler. He had been in the Army for slightly more than a year.
    Besides his father and stepmother in Warden, Whitney is survived by his mother, Mrs. Doris Miller of Kennewick; his grandmother, Mrs. Clarence Albright of Brewster; two brothers, Charles Jr. at the University of Washington and Ed, Kennewick, a sister, Charlene of Kennewick; two stepbrothers, Pfc. Lawrence Walsh with the Army in Vietnam and John Graham of Warden; two stepsisters, Mrs. Cheryle Withers and George Anne Walsh of Warden.
    Other local relatives include four uncles, Clyde and Lloyd Whitney of Warden; Ivan Whitney of Othello and Marvin Whitney of Moses Lake; and aunt, Mrs. Lawrence (Ruth) Berg of Warden.
    Funeral services will be held at Kennewick. Arrangements are pending the arrival of the body from Vietnam.
    Columbia Basin Daily Herald, Moses Lake WA, 30 May 1969)

3rd Reconnaissance Association
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I went to the cemetery where you were buried and saw that a tall standing tree was at the foot of your grave. It appears that it was planted several years ago, possibly even when you were buried. It is obvious that your gravesite is well taken care of, and I wondered if your family was responsible for the upkeep.

I was not even born when you died but I am amazed with what you did in Vietnam at such a young age. Your actions are certainly a testament to your character and what kind of man you were. God bless you and those that take care of your gravesite.

NOW SLEEP

Peace has come.
Now you can truly sleep my son.
The muddy field where you were laid
Flag-draped, will now be green.
Redbud and cherry blossoms can be seen
Soon in bloom above your head.
Arlington's Eternal Flame
Flickers across granite rows
To illuminate your name;
And then beneath it (with lightning's calm)
Strikes in black the word

Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội)  pronunciation (help·info), estimated population 3,398,889 (2008), is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyen Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.

The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 21°2′N 105°51′E / 21.033°N 105.85°E / 21.033; 105.85Coordinates: 21°2′N 105°51′E / 21.033°N 105.85°E / 21.033; 105.85, 1,760 km (1,090 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon.

October 2010 will officially mark 1000 years of the establishment of the city. On this occasion, Hanoi has been named as one of the world's "Top Destinations 2010.

Too close to whisper...
...one click for "yes", two for "no"...
"Brothers of the Bush"

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Recon...their name is
their honor...and nothing more
need be said...Recon
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By  James "Kimo" Andrews