A large gathering outside the American Legion Hall in Eastsound honored the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans today
Updated Nov. 15
The rain waited to come down until the full complement of attendees at the America Legion’s November 11 services had assembled outdoors to dedicate the Veterans of Viet Nam War memorial outside.
Then rain it did while the group stood in watchful silence as Sons of the American Legion (SAL) finance officer and chaplain, George Spees led the outside Viet Nam Memorial dedication. The SAL was the driving force in getting that memorial constructed to honor the Viet Nam Veterans’ granite monument, crafted by Pete Welty. Under a small canopy, Legionnaires on canes and in wheelchairs observed the proceedings.
Prior to the dedication, Legion officers spoke in honor of the service of veterans of all wars — “and to those peoples who have united with us to stamp out the evils of aggression, intolerance and greed.” A call to those in the audience who had served in the military brought over half the standing-room only group to its feet.
The American Legion Hall on Veterans Day 2011
Becky Foster sang the National Anthem — “O say can you see?” and Janis Ghazel sang Billy Joel’s ode to Vietnam-era soldiers, “Goodbye, Saigon” (We’ll All Go Down Together”).
American Legion Post Commander Bob Cook spoke of the “purpose, sacrifice, tolerance, bravery and discipline” of war as “the solid foundation stones upon which a great nation is built. In our continuing quest for an honorable world peace we must cultimate those virtues. ”
Toni Hermanson , president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion, said, “The waging of war involves more than just hte combatants …The fighting forces begin at the fireside and in the hometowns. The repercussions of war’s terrible brutality have chilled hte heart and dimmmed hte hopes and dreams of many a loved on left behind on the home front. ”
“While the horrors of the battlefield may not have been our experience, we have lived with the terrifying loneliness created to answer an aggressor’s challenge.”
Legion Officer Mel Winsor said, “If there be glory in war, it is the almost incredible spirit which it engenders… heroism becomes contagious. Yet, too, in warfare, greed and brutality are epidemic. Too often it is these latter which persist in the peace that follows. Let us strive to see the sae spirit of self-sacrifice is cultivated in peace as has been exhibited in war.
“It behooves us to rear new standards of success, to inspire youth in peace…There is a greater discipline we must now purse if we are to preserve this virtue of obedience in our quest for an honorable world peace. That is obedience to the laws we, ourselves, make — the voluntary discipline of citizenship… the lesson of voluntary obedience to the decisions of the majority.”
Veteran Carol Clark spoke of “the common purpose, the sharing of danger and suffering which brings in time of war a tolerance, which adds strength to the cause.
“As we put aside the [uniforms] that made us one people on the battlefields, we can hold in our minds that tolerance we have achieved. In tolerance there is porgress towards a better and a happier world.”
Following the ceremonies, the Sons of the American Legion and the Women’s Auxiliary hosted a full luncheon.
Those interested in becoming a member of the American Legion can call 376-4987.
I commend our local Sons of the American Legion for at last honoring those who years ago sacrificed in a divisive and controversial conflict for our nation. May we heal and move on.
The SAL unit of Post #93 has worked diligently, along with Pete Welty, to set this memorial for our Viet Nam Veterans. It is long overdue at our post and I am very proud of the Sons, the Auxiliary, and the Post for supporting this in every way possible.