{"id":20537,"date":"2015-05-25T06:06:23","date_gmt":"2015-05-25T11:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/?p=20537"},"modified":"2015-05-25T06:06:23","modified_gmt":"2015-05-25T11:06:23","slug":"vietnam-veterans-of-america-held-their-annual-memorial-day-candlelight-vigil-sunday-night-may-24th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/2015\/05\/25\/vietnam-veterans-of-america-held-their-annual-memorial-day-candlelight-vigil-sunday-night-may-24th\/","title":{"rendered":"Vietnam Veterans of America held their annual Memorial Day Candlelight Vigil Sunday night, May 24th"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Clarksville, TN<\/strong> – On Sunday, May 25th, the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 396 held their annual Candlelight Vigil to remember the men and women who were left behind in Vietnam when American forces withdrew in 1975.<\/p>\n

It is a solemn occasion when a nation gathers together to honor its soldiers, those who lived to come home, but even more importantly those who did not.<\/p>\n

\"LTC<\/a>

LTC (Retired) Jose Garcia delivering the keynote address at the 2015 Vietnam Veterans of America Candle Light Vigil.<\/p><\/div>\n

“We hold this event to remember the POW\/MIA’s from the state of Tennessee and all the remaining POW\/MIA’s from across the country,” stated Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 396 Treasurer, Gery Ezell.<\/p>\n

The local vigil was started in 1989, the same year Chapter 396 was chartered. It is the honored duty of this chapter to call the roll so those brothers and sisters will not be forgotten. It started with 43 names on the roster. Since then, 16 of our comrades have been returned or are accounted for. The latest was SSG Lawerence Woods in 2014.<\/p>\n

There are still 27 missing POW\/MIA\u2019s from the State of Tennessee. Each one was honored in a ceremony held in front of the William O. Beach Civic Hall at Veterans Plaza in Clarksville Tennessee on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n

\"Clarksville<\/a>

Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan speaking to those in attendance.<\/p><\/div>\n

The colors were posted by the honor guard of Montgomery Central High School JROTC. Then a single chair representing all of the POW\/MIA\u2019s nationwide was placed in a position of honor before the audience. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a moment of silence was held. Then Rev. Scott Witt delivered the invocation.<\/p>\n

The guest speaker for this year was LTC (Retired) Jose Garcia. Also on hand were City of Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan, Tennessee State Representative Joe Pitts, Montgomery County Commissioner Ron Sokel, Montgomery County Commissioner Robert Nichols, and several Gold Star Wives.<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/a>

Gold Star Wives attending the event.<\/p><\/div>\n

Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan addressed a crowd of around 100 people, “It’s is humbling to be here tonight. To stand in the presence of all of you and those who are not with us because they have given so much for us to be here enjoying this beautiful on this solemn occasion.”<\/p>\n

“I just want to say on the behalf of the City of Clarksville and everyone of it’s residence, we are thankful for the service that has been given by all of those. We are thankful for those who stood behind those such as the Gold Star Wives that are here with us tonight,” said McMillan. “We will never forget the sacrifice of those who have come before us.”<\/p>\n

LTC (Retired) Jose Garcia stated, “I am truly honored to be here to recognize those who have sacrificed so greatly in service to our nation. We must never forget the men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice or those who were never returned properly. We will not forget. Their memories are forever imprinted on the minds of the families and friends that were left behind.”<\/p>\n

[320left]”Tomorrow, after the sun sets, and after the smell of hotdogs and burgers loft away, I ask you to stop and reflect on the service members who payed a price that we will never be able to match,” said Garcia.<\/p>\n

“Remember that Memorial Day is both a somber day and a day to rejoice. It is both a day to weep and to sing with joy. It is both a day of forgotten valor and a day to remember it. It is a day of springs renewal and the shadow of winters morality. Most of all, Memorial Day is the day to tell the stories of the soldiers of battlefields and decades past, so their stories will never be forgot,” stated Garcia.<\/p>\n

It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion.
\nIt is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
\nIt is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
\nIt is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest.
\nIt is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
\nIt is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
\nIt is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
\nWho serves beneath the flag,
\nAnd whose coffin is draped by the flag,
\nWho allows the protester to burn the flag.<\/p>\n

Poem by Charles M. Province<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"A<\/a>

A Montgomery Central JROTC Cadet salutes a chair recognizing a missing soldier<\/p><\/div>\n

During the ceremony, the 27 names were slowly read aloud, the bell pealed, as someone in the background intoned \u201cAbsent, but not forgotten.\u201d The flame was lit. The empty chair, draped with a POW\/MIA shirt and a placard, identifying the missing solider that it represented, was carried forward by a Montgomery Central JROTC, cadet who once it was in place stepped up before it, and rendered a silent salute.<\/p>\n

The chair for U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Lawerence Woods was retired. His remains were identified September of 2013. His body was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on March 21st, 2014.<\/p>\n

The POW\/MIA chair was retired followed by the colors. Then Rev. Scott Witt delivered the benediction closing out the ceremony.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Montgomery Central JROTC Color Guard retiring the colors.<\/p><\/div>\n

“It’s a solemn occasion because were looking at empty chairs. I look forward to a day when there will be no chairs and then we can just come together and celebrate the lives of those that have been recovered,” said Tennessee State Representative Joe Pitts.<\/p>\n

“It’s always a somber event for people like me to be able to recognize those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and given their all for us to be able to be here tonight,” stated McMillan. “We are so thankful and it’s a debt we can never repay.”<\/p>\n

Remembering these missing soldiers is indeed a solemn duty, and one that patriotic Clarksvillians are only too happy to undertake.<\/p>\n

The POW\/MIA\u2019s<\/h3>\n

Below are the names of the missing Tennesseans. We offer our fervent hope that they too all find their way home once more.<\/p>\n

1st<\/sup> Lieutenant John R. Baldridge Jr.<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nMemphis, TN
\nNovember 20th<\/sup> 1969<\/p>\n

Lance Corporal James A. Benton<\/strong>
\nUSMC
\nDaisy, TN
\nApril 27th<\/sup> 1967<\/p>\n

Specialist 4th<\/sup> Class Dwight A. Bremmer<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nOakland, TN
\nDecember 14th<\/sup> 1971<\/p>\n

Specialist 4th<\/sup> Class James A. Brown<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nHumbolt, TN
\nAugust 12, 1970<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Colonel Donald F. Casey<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nChattanooga, TN
\nJune 23rd<\/sup> 1968<\/p>\n

Sergeant Echol W. Coalston Jr.<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nMemphis, TN
\nJanuary 21st<\/sup> 1968<\/p>\n

Corporal James B. Conway<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nFranklin, TN
\nApril 13th<\/sup> 1966<\/p>\n

1st<\/sup> Lieutenant Larry W. Cotton<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nNashville, TN
\nMarch 9th<\/sup> 1970<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Commander Carroll O. Crain Jr.<\/strong>
\nU.S. Navy
\nMemphis, TN
\nMarch 8th<\/sup> 1967<\/p>\n

Lance Corporal Richard H. Dallas<\/strong>
\nUSMC
\nMemphis, TN
\nApril 27th<\/sup> 1967<\/p>\n

Private First Class Joe L. Delong<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nMcMinnville, TN
\nMay 18th<\/sup> 1967<\/p>\n

Specialist 4th<\/sup> Class Billy J. Ellis<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nElizabethton, TN
\nJanuary 3rd<\/sup> 1968<\/p>\n

Sergeant Donald P. Gervais<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nClarksville, TN
\nMay 1st<\/sup> 1968<\/p>\n

1st<\/sup> Lieutenant Gary A. Glandon<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nPowell, TN
\nMay 26th<\/sup> 1966<\/p>\n

Seaman Apprentice Thomas A. Goetsch<\/strong>
\nU.S. Navy
\nMemphis, TN
\nSeptember 17th, 1972<\/p>\n

Captain Lucius L. Heiskell<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nMemphis, TN
\nFebruary 6th<\/sup> 1967<\/p>\n

Specialist 4th<\/sup> Class Jerry A. Hiemer<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nMemphis, TN
\nNovember 11th<\/sup> 1965<\/p>\n

Private First Class James D. Hunter<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nPortland, TN
\nOctober 29th<\/sup> 1968<\/p>\n

Major Dale A. Johnson<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nElizabethton, TN
\nNovember 27th<\/sup> 1966<\/p>\n

1st<\/sup> Lieutenant Richard C. Lannom<\/strong>
\nUSMC
\nUnion City, TN
\nMarch 1st<\/sup> 1968<\/p>\n

Petty Officer 1st<\/sup> Class James C. Newman Jr.<\/strong>
\nU.S. Navy
\nKnoxville, TN
\nFebruary 6th<\/sup> 1968<\/p>\n

Sergeant Calvin A. Norris<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nMonterey, TN
\nNovember 3rd<\/sup> 1970<\/p>\n

Major Lawerence B. Tatum<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nChattanooga, TN
\nSeptember 10th<\/sup> 1966<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Colonel James A. Treece<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nMemphis, TN
\nOctober 7th<\/sup> 1966<\/p>\n

1st<\/sup> Lieutenant John T. Welshan<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nOak Ridge, TN
\nMarch 3rd<\/sup> 1968<\/p>\n

Colonel David R. Williams<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nMemphis, TN
\nApril 1st<\/sup> 1967<\/p>\n

Captain William C. Woods Jr.<\/strong>
\nUSAF
\nParis, TN
\nSeptember 2nd<\/sup> 1972<\/p>\n

Chair Retired<\/h3>\n

Staff Sergeant Lawerence Woods<\/strong>
\nU.S. Army
\nClarksville, TN
\nOctober 24th<\/sup>, 1964<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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