Veteran Veritas » Memorial Day

A Moment Of Silence And Remembrance

Michael Brewer — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:14:04 +0000

“Only the dead know the end of War”Plato

Would it not be good for the soul of America if we went silent for the whole month of June?

Ergo, no campaigning! The soldiers can’t do it.

Mike,This Memorial Day, go silent for the fallen.On Monday, IAVA will head to hallowed ground. We’ll unite from Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery to The Presidio overlooking the Pacific to remember all 6,442 Americans who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ll rededicate ourselves to support the families they have left behind. And we’ll pause in silence to honor their last full measure of devotion for our country.Will you go silent for them? Sign the pledge to join IAVA in a national moment of silence at 12:01pm this Memorial Day.Memorial Day should be a powerful, unified day of remembrance. In our community, our fallen brothers and sisters stand apart for their bravery and sacrifice. They were our battle buddies, our friends and our family—and we will carry their loss for a lifetime.Pledge to go silent in their memory this Memorial Day. Text “SILENT” to 69866for a reminder before the moment of silence, and then spread the word to your friends on Twitter and Facebook.There is power in silence. No matter where you are this Memorial Day gather your friends and family to pause and reflect in honor of all Americans who have given their lives in defense of our country.

Thank you for standing with us.

Paul

Paul Rieckhoff
Founder and Executive Director
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

PS – Want to join us on the ground this Memorial Day? Bring your friends and family out for local ceremonies from Washington, D.C. to Chicago to San Francisco. Find one near you.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) – 292 Madison Avenue 10th Floor – New York, NY 10017
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Memorial Day 101

Michael Brewer — Sat, 28 May 2011 01:15:28 +0000

I can’t speak to the accuracy of these numbers, but close enough for me…..

Subject: Vietnam Stats: have not seen these before

Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 13:31:27 -0500

Some stats I had not seen before. Staggering.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including

those added in 2010.

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date

and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is

36 years since the last casualties.

Beginning at the apex on panel 1E and going out to the end of the East wall,

appearing to recede into the earth (numbered 70E – May 25, 1968), then

resuming at the end of the West wall, as the wall emerges from the earth

(numbered 70W – continuing May 25, 1968) and ending with a date in 1975. Thus

the war’s beginning and end meet. The war is complete, coming full circle,

yet broken by the earth that bounds the angle’s open side and contained

within the earth itself.

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth, Mass.

listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8,

1956.

His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl.

Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.

39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.

The largest age group, 8,283 were just 19 years old

3,103 were 18 years old.

12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.

5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.

One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam.

1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnan.

31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

54 soldiers on the Wall attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia.

I wonder why so many from one school.

8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.

244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of

them are on the Wall.

Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There

are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

The Marines of Morenci – They led some of the scrappiest high school football

and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop.

5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In

quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in

the Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of

Morenci’s mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a

group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966.

Only 3 returned home.

The Buddies of Midvale – LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all

boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on

Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They

played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to

Vietnam..

In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was

killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s

assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom

was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245

deaths.

The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 – 2,415 casualties

were incurred.

That’s 2,415 dead in a single month.

A Don't Miss Memorial Day Event

Michael Brewer — Tue, 24 May 2011 21:59:50 +0000

WELCOME HOME! Community Event
Supporting our Veterans through Festivity & Camaraderie
SAVE THE DATE
MAY 28, 2011 5pm to 9pm @ University Blvd/4th Ave
Hosted by Trinity Presbyterian Church
400 E. University Blvd, Tucson AZ 85705
BBQ & Pies~Live Music~Comaraderie~Prizes
~Kids Activities~ Silent Auction
To benefit the non-profit organization, Comin’ Home,
and their veterans’ services and veterans’ housing fund.
In the fun and festive 4th Avenue area, come celebrate our veterans, active duty and military family members along with
various other veteran organizations and businesses who support our heroes. Enjoy BBQ vendors, pie & dessert vendors,
live music and guest speakers including State Senator Frank Antenori & City of Tucson Councilman Steve Kozachik!
“The importance of this event is shown by the fact that Dave Croteau of Veterans For Peace
and Arizona State Senator Frank Antenori (R-LD30),
while at different ends of the political spectrum, can come together to agree on taking care of
our veterans.” – Dave Ewoldt, Event Project Leader
MC – Comedian Walt Maxam
Music Lineup includes:
Brian Dean Trio
The Chet Gardiner Band
Pablo Perigrino and Friends

Memorial Day Weekend Community Event

Michael Brewer — Tue, 24 May 2011 21:56:46 +0000

Media Contact:

Jessica S. McDunn

713-525-7512

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Lawn Palms Cemetery Hosts

Memorial Day Weekend Community Activities

TUCSON, Ariz. – (May 19, 2011) – In observance of Memorial Day, East Lawn Palms Cemetery will host a weekend of activities May 28-30, at the cemetery, 5801 East Grant Road in Tucson. The events are free and open to the public. Call 520-886-5561 for more information.

The activities for the weekend include:

From May 28-30, the Vietnam Veterans of America Tucson Chapter 106 will display Vietnam memorabilia in a Memorial Museum.

From 7 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, the Boy Scouts from the Papago Chapter Order of the Arrow will place flags on veterans’ graves along with various Veteran organizations.

At 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, the cemetery will provide candles for a candlelight service.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 30, the VFW Post 4903 will conduct a Memorial Day ceremony featuring guest speaker U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Vincent J. Hnat, music by Sons of Orpheus and presentation of colors by the Tucson Fire Department. Flyover courtesy of the Arizona Air National Guard 162nd Fighter Wing.

East Lawn Palms Cemetery is a proud Dignity Memorial® provider in Tucson. The Dignity Memorial network of providers has several initiatives to honor and support our nation’s veterans and active military. The initiatives and programs include the Veterans Planning Guide, the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, the Dignity Memorial Forgotten Veterans Burial Program, educational veterans seminars and special pricing for members of veterans service organizations.

The Dignity Memorial network of more than 1,800 funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers is North America’s most trusted resource for funeral and memorialization services. Dignity Memorial providers offer an unmatched combination of products and locations serving families with care, integrity, respect and service excellence. For more information, visit www.EastLawnPalms.com.