The traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall in Penndel opened Friday morning with a grand ceremony celebrating veterans of the conflict.
Former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, along with former U.S. Army Captain David Christian and Colonel Rick Kiernan spoke in front of the gathered crowd.
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“What a privilege it is for all of us to be here today,” Fitzpatrick said. He explained the significance of the traveling wall, adding how many people with family on the wall might not be able to travel to Washington D.C. to see the memorial and pay respects.
David Christian, a lifelong advocate for veterans and who served in Vietnam and Bucks County resident, spoke about the America he knew when he came home after being critically injured. Through welling emotions, Christian explained that while lots of other veterans dealt with the disrespect of a nation spitting on them, he never did directly.
“I came back to an America that was still patriotic,” Christian started. “It was us. We stood shoulder to shoulder.”
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It is that support and standing together that Christian spoke of when he talks about legislation he penned pertaining to agent orange and PTSD.
“Let veteran preference stand for something aside from just a word,” Christian told those who gathered for the ceremony.
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The most important and lasting moment of his speech came when Christian urged the American public to never let a generation of heroes be treated like the Vietnam veterans were when they returned home ever again.
“Those who fought these wars, all wars, they didn’t start these wars,” Christian said.
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If the public should hold anyone accountable, it should be the politicians starting the fight, he said.
“Please don’t ever again let a generation take it out on the veterans,” he said.
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Kiernan spoke about the tremendous sacrifice many men gave in Vietnam.
“Those who we remember today have set a standard of personal sacrifice that we cannot match by any words we might say,” Kiernan said.
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Of the 58,307 names on the wall, 136 of them are names from Bucks County. One hundred thirty three Bucks Countians were killed in action, while three of them remain missing in action. A ceremony on Saturday, July 15th will honor those lost.
The three-fifths scale version of the memorial in Washington D.C. will be available for public review at the Penndel Memorial Ball Field on PFC. John Dalola Avenue.
