The Fallen Come Home To Barnwell
Alternative content
The Fallen Come Home To Barnwell
While President Obama honored the return of eighteen Americans who were killed in Afghanistan, this week, here at home, one group is making sure its heroes who gave their lives for freedom are not...
While President Obama honored the return of eighteen Americans who were killed in Afghanistan, this week, here at home, one group is making sure its heroes who gave their lives for freedom are not forgotten. Thursday morning, the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall arrived in Barnwell County. WJBF News Channel 6’s Joy Howe has the story.
Published: October 29, 2009
Updated: October 29, 2009
Barnwell County, SC—To know one name on the wall, is to know too many. Allen Hawkes knows 24 of them…
Allen Hawkes, Vietnam Veteran: “I’ve already had my cry this morning.“
Thursday morning, he found and remembered each one.
Hawkes: “Marion Zipp was a good friend of mine, and we had one evening in which we lost 24 young men. Marion, as one of them, and I carried him to try to get help from the medic, and he was just messed up too bad.“
He came out and joined a small group of Vietnam Veterans who welcomed the traveling memorial as it was set up Thursday, in Barnwell.
Tom Cuny, President, VVA 828: “Great honor. Those are a lot of our buddies and friends up on that wall.“
The local Vietnam Vet chapter paid $4,500 to bring this wall here. The 300-foot-long wall has 58,000 names on it; ten of them are from Barnwell, Bamberg, and Allendale counties.
Cuny: “The first woman ever killed in Vietnam, and her name’s on that wall. She was a nurse in Allendale County, so she’s from around this area.“ 01.13.13
Ed Knight, Navy Vet: “Her and her girlfriend were in a helicopter that crashed.“
Hawkes: “So it’s tough, particularly when you see their name on the wall, you remember them. It brings a lot of memories back, but it does provide some closure for you.“
Not everyone here knows someone on the wall…but they know each other.
Knight: “This brings them together, and we don’t see them, they’re not part of our chapter, but it doesn’t matter, we’re brothers.“
And they bring a challenge—although their war is over, they still fight to for those who give their lives.
Hawkes: “Don’t forget the people that died for this country that died for the freedom that we have.“
Cuny: “If you have your name in front of people, you’re never forgotten. Their names will be on the wall, and their names will never be forgotten.“
Saturday, the public is invited to gather the wall to help release 288 black balloons that represent South Carolina men and women who died in the war. Inside those balloons will be a name of a fallen soldier, and a contact number…the idea is if you find that balloon, you contact the local veteran chapter and tell them how far it flew.
The wall will ship out Monday, November 2nd.
Advertisement
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement