News-Info-Alerts

Re: A Tribute to Comrades

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: June 12, 2003

"Vietnam Wall fine tribute to comrades

The dream — the labor of love, dedication and remembrance — comes to fruition on Saturday in Port St. Lucie with the dedication of the Florida Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

The wall at Veterans Park on Midport Road consists of eight jet-black panels of granite from the same quarry as the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. It is 48 feet long, 4 feet tall at the ends and 6 feet tall at the center.

Etched on the wall are the names of 1,952 service personnel from Florida who were killed or remain missing in action from the Vietnam War, including 23 from the Treasure Coast.

The wall honoring the lost Floridians is a project by the Vietnam Veterans of America, St. Lucie County Chapter 566. Otis Jones, a retired Air Force veteran who spearheaded the project, said at groundbreaking last year, "When we survived Vietnam, we were left with the responsibility to remember our brothers who didn't survive. We didn't want to leave them in the battlefields across the pond."

Paul J. Hiott, St. Lucie County Veterans Services Director, reported a recent statement from Chapter 566: "This is a project by the community, for the community. The memorial would not have been possible without the help of generous contractors and artisans donating their time and efforts to make this dream a reality. Your generosity will touch the lives of thousands and leave something behind for many generations to share. This project is something that our community can be proud to have played such a major part in bringing to reality."

Architectural plans for the wall were by David Cleveland of Omega Architectural Productions of Fort Pierce. The mining, engraving and placement of the panels were by Real Stone and Granite of Fort Pierce.

This has, indeed, been a project by the community that has been years in the making. It is a project for all of Florida and for all the nation. It provides an opportunity for reflection and for remembering the ultimate price paid by those who served valiantly in that war as Americans have served valiantly in all this nation's wars.

Our great thanks and appreciation go especially to the members of Chapter 566. They have honored their fallen comrades and have honored their community. Their efforts will long be remembered along with those named on the wall.

Dedication ceremonies Saturday begin at 10 a.m. Family members of some named on the wall are expected to be among speakers.

We hope that family members and friends who visit the wall this weekend or in the months and years to come will find some peace.

© 2002 - The E.W. Scripps Co."