Vietnam War Memorial in Westminster, CA
Cal Hutchinson, Victor Hobbs and I attended the unveiling
of the new Vietnam War Memorial in Westminster which is the only one that
is dedicated to the US and Vietnamese soldiers who fought side by side
for the freedom of the people of the former Republic of Vietnam.
Thousands of people, mostly Vietnamese Americans, attended
and most were in an area behind a chain link fence where there were no
seats, standing room only. The sentiment most often heard between
the tears and sobs was "How different things would have been then if our
government and the citizens would have had the leadership and resolve then
for Vietnam that we have now for Iraq." and "Too bad the government and
people didn't back our troops then like they do now."
Here are the bronze statues and eternal flame.
The service flags and the statues
are mounted on a curved black marble wall. When
the angle is just right it looks
like the men are stepping out into the fire.
Our View of the Ceremony from the "VIP" seats.
John H. "Goofy" Pierson (kneeling center), Cal "Hutch"
Hutchinson
(wearing ball cap) and representatives of the
former Republic of Vietnam Military.
Submitted by, John H. "Goofy" Pierson, Jr., Major USMC
(Ret)
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