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photo courtesy of American Veterans Traveling Tribute

Traveling Vietnam Wall on the campus of Lindbergh High School

June 13 16, 2013
The City of Crestwood would like to thank all the Vietnam Veterans for their Service and Dedication to our Country

The City of Sunset Hills would like to thank all the Vietnam Veterans for their service and dedication to our country.
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The Wall is available for visitation 24 hours a day beginning Thursday, June 13, until the closing ceremony at noon on Sunday, June 16.

Vietnam Wall Display Programs

Wednesday, June 12
The traveling wall arrives on the afternoon of June 12, escorted by a motorcade of vehicles, motorcycles and honor guard. 4 p.m. Wall arrives with escort at Lindbergh High School, 5000 S. Lindbergh Blvd. 5 p.m. Welcome by Lt. Edward Sweeney, Jr. U. S. Army, Ret.

Saturday, June 15
6 p.m. Welcome - Butch Thomas, president of Sunset Hills Historical Society Master of Ceremonies - Martin Kilycoyne, KTRS Radio Remarks by Crestwood Mayor Jeff Schlink Posting of Colors - St. Louis Service Womens Post 404 Color Guard National Anthem, Patriotic Songs - Concord School Flyers, 4th & 5th grade choir, under the direction of Valerie Creech Invocation - Chaplain Marian Whitfield, Air Force, St. Louis Service Womens Post 404 Keynote Speaker - Judge Charles Berry, Vietnam veteran Congresswoman Ann Wagner, 2nd District Presentation - Katie Melies, president of Gold Star Mothers & Children; Linda Hobkirk Memorial to eight women listed on the Wall Service Veterans Post 404 Last Roll Call; Fallen Soldier Display Benediction - Chaplain Marian Whitfield Three Volley Salute - Post 404 Military Funeral Honors Team; Taps, Mary Weber Retrieval of Colors - Post 404 Color Guard

Thursday, June 13

The Traveling Wall has made stops across the nation and serves to educate, inspire and to provide a place for healing for all those who visit. The Wall is an 80 percent scale model of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors U.S. Service members and armed forces who died or who were missing in action in the service of their country. More than 58,000 names are etched into the memorial wall.

6 p.m.

Welcome - Butch Thomas, president of Sunset Hills Historical Society Master of Ceremonies - Don Corrigan, editor, Webster-Kirkwood Times, South County Times and West End Word Chaplain Norbert Butz of Marine Corps League Posting of the Colors - Marine Corps League Cannon on site with crew at attention Presentation of the National Anthem by Richard Conners, Vietnam veteran Medley of Patriotic Songs by the Lindbergh High School Marching Band, under the direction of David Weiss Introduction of Dr. James Simpson, superintendent, Lindbergh School District Introduction of Sunset Hills Mayor Bill Nolan Introduction of Governor Jay Nixon (tentative) Keynote Speaker Joseph Frank Benediction by Chaplain Norbert Butz; Taps, Marine Corps League Welcome - Butch Thomas, president of Sunset Hills Historical Society Master of Ceremonies - Anne Allred, KSDK-TV Posting of Colors - American Legion Post 208 10th District National Anthem - Lindbergh High School Strolling Strings; Chaplain Invocation Keynote Speaker - Charlie Dooley, St. Louis County executive and Vietnam veteran Retire the Colors - American Legion Post 208 10th District Benediction by Chaplain David Howard

Sunday, June 16

6 p.m. Note: Reps from the Mo. Veterans Commission on hand 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer questions about veterans benefits.

Friday, June 14

Noon Welcome - Butch Thomas, president of Sunset Hills Historical Society Master of Ceremonies - Kevin Killeen, KMOX Radio Remarks by Fenton Mayor Mike Polizzi Posting of Colors - St. Louis Service Womens Post 404 Color Guard National Anthem - Nicole Moore, violin solo Invocation - Chaplain Father Joseph A. Weber, U.S. Air Force-retired colonel; Parish Priest St. Justin Martyr Guest Speaker - Walter Crawford Jr., executive director of the Wild Bird Sanctuary Benediction - Chaplain Father Joseph A. Weber Honor Guard - American Legion Post 162, Lemay Memorial Post

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The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall comes to St. Louis County largely due to the efforts of the Sunset Hills Historical Society, many businesses and civic organizations and with a big assist from local veterans groups. Known as the Show-Me Hero Salute, a planning committee formed in January. The intention is to present a dignified local memorial respecting those who served, and those who served and didnt return home.

Escort To Lead Vietnam Wall To Lindbergh High On June 12

by Joe Leicht
Rosann Shannon of Crestwood has done the logistical juggling for more than a dozen parades in the South St. Louis County area. But the queue of vehicles, veterans and dignitaries assigned to lead the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall to Lindbergh High School does not constitute a parade. It is definitely not a parade because of the solemnity of the event. Its referred to as an escort, Shannon said, emphatically. There wont be floats or 300 to 400 vehicles. Thats not what this is about. The escort will assemble near the Social Security office, 8800 Watson Road (just east of Grant Road), beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12. The escort will depart by 3:30 p.m. It will travel west on Watson Road and turn south onto Lindbergh Boulevard. The escort should arrive at Lindbergh High School by 4 p.m. The Wall will be on display June 13-16. All those involved in the Show-Me Hero Salute are serious about preserving the dignity of the procession, and the events that follow. Youre not going to have individuals in cheerleader outfits. Nobody with a calliope is going to be selling snow cones, said Tom Ford, the tributes honor committee chairman and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1028. The general rule is if you wouldnt do it at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, youre not going to do it here. Lt. Edward Sweeney Jr., U.S. Army,

photo courtesy of American Veterans Traveling Tribute Ret., will pronounce the official welcome, then volunteers will set about erecting the tents and the displays for the following days official opening. Shannon said veterans groups from a growing list of municipalities, including Crestwood, Sunset Hills, Shrewsbury, Fenton, Eureka, St. Peters and more, plus more than 100 confirmed motorcyclists, will participate. The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall comes to town through the sponsorship of the Sunset Hills Historical Society. The wall is an 80percent replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., and is inscribed with the same 58,000 names. The display will be set up as a cooperative effort among the veterans, Boy Scouts of America, Lindbergh High School students and many other volunteers. It will remain open June 1316, day and night. Its a healing situation for pretty much everybody. And there are a lot of people who dont want to grieve in front of everybody else, said Ford. They might want to be here at three in the morning, thats why the tents will be open 24/7. Again, its not a parade, Shannon said. But I hope people will turn out and line Watson and Lindbergh as the escort passes. The stories of some of the veterans and the entire idea of the Wall has touched my heart.

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Did You Know ...

More than 58,000 names are etched into the Wall. The largest age group on the Wall is 18 years old 33,103. Twelve soldiers on the wall were 17 years old. Five soldiers who died in the conflict were just 16 years old. One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock, was 15. Perhaps even more startling than the loss of Dan Bullock at 15: - 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam; - 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam; - 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. And, of course, that means 31 sets of parents lost two sons in the Vietnam War. The names on the Wall are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date, and within each date are alphabetized. It is hard to believe that we are approaching 40 years since the last casualty.

Wildlife Biologist, Distinguished Veteran, To Speak At Wall June 16

by Joe Leicht
The majestic bird that symbolizes the American spirit is slated to take wing on the last of four days dedicated to remembering veterans who served in Vietnam. Walter Crawford Jr. is dedicated to preserving these winged wonders. He is also committed to ensuring that the sometimes under-appreciated sacrifices of Americans who served in the Vietnam War are not forgotten. At noon on Sunday, June 16, hell indulge both of those passions as one of the speakers at the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall at Lindbergh High School, 5000 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Crawford, who is executive director of the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, served in Vietnam from 1968 through 1969. Like his namesake father, he is a U.S. Army man. In 2012, he was honored by Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder as Distinguished Veteran of the Year. He holds a bachelors degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a masters degree from Mississippi State University. He is also founder and vice president of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and past president of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators. Crawford said he is still working on his speech for the Wall, But whenever Ive had the opportunity, my theme is always pro-America. Remembering the countrys military heritage, I will tailor my speech to the occasion. I havent been able to make it to the Wall in Washington, D.C., so this will be a humbling experience. I appreciate the Sunset Hills Historical Society for setting this up. I think every one of us sit and think about our Vietnam experiences, whether you acknowledge it or not. Its with you every night when you go to bed. I have a lot of friends and buddies names on that Wall. I want to try to honor our brothers whenever and wherever we can, said Crawford. The Vietnam War wasnt a cut and dry situation. Some, not most, maybe looked down on us, especially if theyre World War II veterans. They won their war. We just did what we had to do, Crawford said. Weather permitting, Crawford will bring two bald eagles to the remembrance to accompany his speech. Theyre our national symbol. Theyre our most popular bird and especially appropriate for this occasion. Crawford resides near the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park and is a member of several area veterans organizations. Days and times for the many speeches and presentations that will comprise the four-day remembrance are listed in the program on page 3.

photo by Diana Linsley

I think every one of us sit and think about our Vietnam experiences, whether you acknowledge it or not. Its with you every night when you go to bed. I have a lot of friends and buddies names on that Wall.

Walter Crawford Jr.

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Civic, Veteran Groups Join Ranks In Organizing Traveling Wall Event

Morris L. Butch Thomas, president of the Sunset Hills Historical Society, is impressed by the number of local civic and veterans groups that joined in the effort to bring the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall to St. Louis. Our Show-Me Hero Salute committee grew in size with every week since its start in January. We are genuinely gratified by the number of civic and veterans groups who have eagerly joined in this effort to show our Vietnam veterans, and all veterans, that they are never forgotten and they are always appreciated, said Thomas, who is chairing the event. Every day the Wall is here will be memorable, beginning Wednesday, June 12, when the wall arrives and an escort motorcade travels through Crestwood on Watson Road, noted Thomas. Then it will travel down South Lindbergh to the high school where there will be a cannon volley welcome. On Thursday, there will be music and a patriotic program and many notables including local mayors, county officials, legislators and leaders in state government. Thomas said the daily programs will be short, as the major function of the wall will be to create a solemn, reverent and meditative site. Chaplains will be available for visitors as needed. St. Anthonys Medical Center will provide a First-Aid facility on site. Computers will be available and assistance given to help visitors to the scale-model memorial locate the names of their loved ones on the various panels of the Wall. The Show-Me Hero Salute has scheduled special events (see schedule, page 3), but the Wall will be available for visi-

photo courtesy of American Veterans Traveling Tribute

tation 24 hours a day until the closing ceremony at noon on Sunday, June 16. Two generations ago, America found itself embroiled in the hottest war of the Cold War era in Southeast Asia. The Vietnam Wall documents the American loss of life in a war that is generally recorded as lasting from 1959 through the fall of Saigon in 1975. This year marks a series of 50th anniversaries in the intensification of the war and an increase in Americas presence in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. This is an ongoing event that is happening now and will not simply end when the Wall comes down on Sunday, June 16, said Thomas. We welcome those who have a story to tell to do so at the Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall. This is a community event that is free and open to the public and we are going to do our best to live up to our theme: Honor, Respect, Remember.

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Judge Edward Sweeney Helped Raise Funds For Vietnam Veterans Memorial In Nations Capital
by Alice Dunaway
For Honorable Judge Edward Sweeney, the arrival of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall to St. Louis County is more than an event its fulfillment of a mission. Sweeney, himself a Vietnam veteran, served on a committee to raise funds to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Sweeney will speak at the Traveling Wall site at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12. He said the Traveling Wall is a great opportunity for those who cant travel to Washington to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall. Millions served in the war. Some in Vietnam, some in the Navy off the coast, some in the Air Force. All of those people family members, and those affected can go see this traveling Wall, Sweeney said. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), a nonprofit, charitable organization, began in 1979 after Congress refused to publicly fund the memorial. VVMF raised $8.4 million in private donations from more than 275,000 individuals, veteran organizations and committees, businesses and unions. We had a group here in St. Louis that put together an effort to raise money for the memorial, Sweeney said. Local committees did not have any input into the design of the memorial. But Sweeney said the controversial chosen design did make it difficult to raise funds. To satisfy contributors, a statue with three soldiers carrying infantry weapons was added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial should not be just to those who died, but all of those who did their duty to their country, Sweeney said. Most veterans wanted to forget the war and to put it in the past. I think the fact that there is a memorial does something to honor those who served their country. The Wall has a lot of meaning for Sweeney, who spent a year in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. I think, in many ways, the Wall speaks for itself, Sweeney said. I look at the Wall and I see names of kids from my kindergarten and grade school. I see the name of a kid I went to high school with who played football up there. I see the names of kids from the Army on the Wall. Sweeney attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he majored in political science and participated in ROTC. He graduated in 1969 and spent a year in the U.S. Army before being called to active duty in Vietnam. He was one of the oldest men in his unit. Sweeney saw action in the northernmost region of South Vietnam, close to the demilitarized zone that bordered North Vietnam. He spent most of his time on firebases, with the goal to protect the Vietnamese people. Firebases were positioned to protect the people, Sweeney said. As with the troops today, you dont know who is the enemy until they do something hostile. Its not good psychologically. Much of Sweeneys experience was influenced by his location in Vietnam. I spent most of my time stationed on firebases. The few civilians near us were the Montagnard, who were a more primitive, tribal people. We were in the mountains that, if they werent defoliated, were mostly jungle, Sweeney said. My experience was much different than someone who was stationed near a village or was in a swampy area. Sweeney respected the men with whom he served. The flavor of camaraderie was made much more valuable because you did have people from all walks of life, Sweeney said. During his year in Vietnam, Sweeney saw a number of celebrities as they stopped off to entertain troops. I saw Bob Hope right before Christmas. I took a number of soldiers from my unit. Some people got to go and some people had to stay back. I was lucky to take some of my men to the show, Sweeney said. We got there early and we were fortunate to get a good seat. It was right at the end of monsoon season, but the weather was clear and perfect, and the show went on without a hitch. After his time in Vietnam, Sweeney immediately went to law school. I knew I wanted to go to law school in college. I filled out my application in Vietnam and I got my acceptance when I was still there, Sweeney said. It was very helpful that I had that goal. It gave me something to immerse myself in when I returned. Once home, Sweeney returned to the University of Missouri-Columbia where he earned his law degree. He served as a Missouri legislator from 1975-1980. In 1997, he was appointed an associate circuit judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit.

Honorable Judge Edward Sweeney photo by Diana Linsley Voters retained him in 1998 and 2002. He was appointed a circuit judge in January 2005. Sweeney said he has made it his goal to make sure that no one forgets why they enjoy the freedoms they do. My service is something I will never forget and something I am proud of, Sweeney said. I tell every jury at the end of every case that we take our rights for granted. Its good to remind people we are enjoying rights because of the willingness of veterans.

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11

Vietnam Vet Reflects On The Walking Dead

by Megan Favignano
When Guy Leonard joined the U.S. Marine Corps., he didnt know he would be assigned to the battalion nicknamed The Walking Dead. Everywhere they went they got into a big fight, Leonard said. Leonard joined the U.S. Marines and attended boot camp when he was 18 years old. He said he did it because he wanted to experience something new. He saw the military recruiters in downtown St. Louis on his way to work one day and decided on the spot to sign up. I was hanging around some of the wrong people and decided to do something different, Leonard said. He said his family was surprised by his decision since he hadnt talked about joining the military before signing up. Leonard said the thought of joining had crossed his mind previously but not in a significant way. Leonard was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the 9th Marines, which someone at the time told him they called the dying nine. When the time came to go to Vietnam in 1967, Leonard said he was excited but also anxious. Probably in the back of my mind, I was a little bit apprehensive, he said. Because you know people get killed and its your turn (to fight). Leonard survived the battles he fought, the biggest being that of Khe Sanh in 1968. One battalion of the 9th Marines was called in to help at a U.S. combat base near the Khe Sanh perimeter in Vietnam. North Vietnamese military attempted to block them and attacked the combat base. Leonard said the battle started around 4 in the morning and lasted until around 9 a.m. A little less than half of the 64 marines in that battle died. Leonard was injured three times by shrapnel. Once he had been injured, he went into a bunker on the hill with another Marine. I was gross. Both my eyes, blood was coming out of everything, Leonard said. Leonard said when he realized how injured he was, he started going into shock. He received a morphine shot. Fifteen minutes later, the battle ended. Leonard was sent to a hospital to recover. I saw myself in the mirror and it didnt even look like me. The side of my face was all burnt, Leonard said. His injuries sent him back to the United States and out of war for about eight months. He spent the majority of his recovery in a hospital in Memphis, Tenn. After being released from the hospital, Leonard ended up in North Carolina at Camp Lejeune. While there, he worked a typical business day, printing maps. After a few months, he was sent to Cuba to be security at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Leonard said he enjoyed talking to the younger Marines working security at the base. I was teaching the young guys that hadnt been to Vietnam things about combat situations, Leonard said. They can only teach you so much stuff in boot camp. Leonard ended up back in St. Louis in 1970. When he came back, he said he remembers the city still seeming familiar to him. His time in the Marines inspired his younger brother Roger to join the military when he was old enough to do so in the mid-1970s. Leonard likens being a Vietnam veteran and a member of the 1st Battalion of the 9th Marines to being in an exclusive club. He said veterans always acknowledge one another. With the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall coming to St. Louis, veterans will have the opportunity to see one another and reflect. Leonard said he likes seeing the wall travel around the country. A lot of people cant afford or take the time to get to Washington, D.C., to see the Vietnam Memorial Wall there, Leonard said.

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