Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 6, 1994 TAG: 9407060042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By CHRISTIAN TOTO Special to the Roanoke Times & World-News
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Signs of freedom could be seen throughout Bisset Park. Two brothers tussled on the soft grass, their mom watching. Families strolled together. Young and old stretched out on blankets, soaking in the sunny weather and live entertainment.
In front of the Vietnam Veterans' monument, Bobby Ward told those gathered around how to best serve the memory of the soldiers who died in the controversial war. "They were prepared to die but not prepared to be forgotten," he said.
The monument, erected in 1985, is a four-sided figure carved with the names of those from Radford and surrounding counties who died in the war.
Three wreaths stood in front of the monument for the occasion - the 10th anniversary of the 138th Chapter of New River Valley's Vietnam Veterans of America Inc.
Twenty-eight people filed a petition on February 14, 1984, asking permission to form the Vietnam Veterans' charter; on March 14 of the same year, they received it.
Speaking from the Bisset Park gazebo, Ward, president of the chapter, said the Fourth of July represents "America's birthday ... a lot of men died for it."
On Monday, Ward focused on the "33 names of brave Americans who answered the call of their country." Before reading each name, he said: "remember."
Relatives of those honored were given carnations.
As Ward spoke, a small procession of veterans, their ages varying greatly, stood at attention. Of the four flags the men proudly displayed, the POW-MIA emblem stood out as a reminder that for some, the war ended with question marks.
Among those assembled were family members of the deceased veterans. Donnie Cox, a Floyd native, came to pay his respects to his brother James.
"A lot of mothers lost their sons," Cox said of the war. "It's a shame."
He spoke of current conflicts worldwide, saying things haven't improved much. Those conflicts "shed a dim light on what they fought for," he said.
Edna O'Brien, who likes to spend the holiday with her family, came to honor her brother, Paul R. Martin. The Pearisburg native said that when she thinks of Independence Day, she thinks about freedom.
Treva Huff from Pilot came Monday to honor the memory of her son, Paul L. Huff.
"He had 11 days till he could come home," she said, her voice trailing off.
On July 4, she said, "We should think of the peace we've got to have ... that these boys lost their lives for."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***