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Reminder of another war, 'different era’ arrives in Clemson
Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall to stay through Sunday
Photo by Sefton Ipock
Martha Bridges waves as hundreds of motorcyclists make their way along Old Greenville Highway (S.C. 93) in front of Bowman Field Wednesday. The motorcyclists served as an escort for the traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial which will be on display on the Clemson campus until Monday morning.
Photo by Sefton Ipock
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders escort the truck carrying the traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial onto past Bowman Field in Clemson Wednesday. The wall will be on display this weekend as part of the University's homecoming festivities.
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CLEMSON UNIVERSITY — With two sons who served in the military, it’s not a surprise that Jeff Carr is patriotic.
But he was surprised as he rode his Suzuki Intruder behind a truck that carried a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall that thousands of others would turn out to show their feelings as well on Wednesday.
The arrival in Clemson of the traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall brought out not only veterans, but families, students and many individuals to see the hundreds of motorcycles, many with American flags, escort the truck bearing the wall.
“There was a fantastic turnout,” said Carr as he sat on his motorcycle, waiting for the truck bearing the wall to back onto Bowman Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Carr was one of the estimated 700 Patriot Guard or Rolling Thunder motorcyclists who accompanied the wall from Easley to Clemson University.
Carr said, while he escorted the wall, he saw thousands of people turn out to see it.
“We came through Liberty and the whole town was out, the streets were lined with people,” he said. “It’s nice to see the patriotism.”
The wall arrived in Clemson at Bowman Field and was assembled amid hammering for a Habitat for Humanity house, homecoming float-building by Clemson University students and traffic at one of the busiest intersections in Clemson.
It will be open for visitation today through Sunday at Bowman Field. A 24-hour honor guard will stand by the wall, and opening and closing ceremonies are planned. Opening ceremonies are planned at noon today and closing ceremonies are 4 p.m. Sunday. The wall is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The main part of the original memorial, which was completed in 1982, is adjacent to the National Mall, northeast of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial receives around 3 million visitors each year. The replica wall is about half the size of the original.
The wall contains more than 58,000 names of Americans who died during the Vietnam War.
Several of those were friends of Walt Evans, 65, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1966.
“I’ve got a couple of buddies on it,” he said while waiting for the wall to arrive in Clemson.
Evans, of west Anderson, is a member of the Pendleton American Post 113, which was responsible for getting the wall to Clemson. Evans plans to be an usher for people visiting the wall this week.
Donald Gilstrap, 61, of Oconee County, said he served in Vietnam in the Navy aboard the USS Merrick from 1965 to 1969, three tours over 23 months. He, too, was at Clemson, waiting for the wall to arrive.
“I haven’t been to Washington, D.C., and I’ve wanted to see it,” he said. “I know quite a few guys on it.”
Motioning to jean-clad students walking by, Gilstrap said he knows it is mostly history to them.
“A lot of these people you see around here weren’t even born when this happened,” he said. “Different time, different era.”
Each day, 360 names of South Carolinians who died in the war will be read, said Justin Blake, 21, a Clemson senior from Columbia and member of the school’s Pershing Rifles group. Blake, wearing the Pershing Rifles’ dress uniform, stood at attention when the wall arrived.
Veterans groups in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties contributed the $30,000 required to pay to bring the wall to Clemson, said Jimmy Manley, commander of the Pendleton post.
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The Wall has deep meaning for those who lived through Vietnam. I too have several friends who's name is on the Wall. Hopefully, the students at Clemson U will pass by and know that this men and women died preserving freedom just as service men and women are doing today in the Persian Gulf.
Special salute...to all Vietnam veterans...a hearfelt thanks for keeping America free...and for the heros who left it all on the field and the their familys...my undying gratitude.
May the patritotic state of South Carolina...always remain a patriotic state.
I hope the students at Clemson and all that visit during this Homecoming Weekend, take the time to visit "THE WALL" for this is Homecoming to those who gave all. There are 58,195 stories on this Wall. Behind each name is a mother, dad, sister, bother, aunt, uncle, and many friends. These were our bothers and sisters who never received the heros welcome home. This generation can best understand what we as Vietnam Veterans experenced. Having seen our brave young men and women in Iraq accused of everything from torture, killing civilians,and storming homes in the dead of night while our enemy kills thousands through indescriminate car bombings. If we desert our country, we are punished, but if our country deserts us, that is dissent.
Can't you guys cut the political junk and focus on honoring the memory of those 58,000?
Why spend time making comments about South Carolina being "a patriotic state"? Are there some states that aren't?
Or why claim that our country deserts the troops, when time and time again, everybody has bent over backwards to show deference to the troops? There is a difference between civilian political leaders and the troops.
I wasn't there in the 60's and 70's, but the counter-culture types were a lot harsher towards the military than any of the lefties of today.
Just because a few kooks and religious nuts say some stupid things, doesn't mean that entire political parties or entire states don't respect the sacrifice of our military.
Just let it go!
I wish to thank the many Veterans Groups that helped bring the Memorial to the Upstate.
I plan on paying my respects Saturday.
in response to andrew.hammett
Bud, as a South Carolinian, I will say whatever I want to say. Thats what we do around here...practice our rights.
The Wall and the procession reinforced my belief that South Carolinians are some of the most patriotic people in the nation. My hope is that we will always be patriotic and ready to defend ourselves and our neighbors.
My prayer to-day was for the veterans and their families, especially the heros who did not make it home.
It was not a comment for an intellectual poster like yourself to twist into something that it was not...it was for those guys in Pendleton and to let them know...good job, we support you.
I am proud of my state and its patriotism.
maybe you should let it go.
in response to andrew.hammett
I think there is a pinko commie in the room.
in response to truth_28
That's right, sir. BURN THE WITCH!
Please... I give my honor and respect to all the men and women that had the horrible fate of being sent to fight in Vietnam, whether through a draft or of their own will. Many of my friends have been Vietnam veterans, and few of them survived without deep emotional or physical scars. In their honor, may we not send our troops to fight in vain. May we not use them for political or monetary gain, but to protect this country that they love enough to risk their lives for.
As for labeling troops as evil, I blame the administration and not the soldier. The soldiers are simply trying to complete their objectives and help one another survive.
Still, there are good and bad soldiers. I reference pilot Jack Thompson, whose chose to endanger his own life to save innocents in Vietnam while others like William Calley indiscriminately killed civilians. More recently, four marines are accused of killing a superior officer and his wife after repeatedly gang-raping her in front of him. That doesn't make all soldiers evil by any means, but it does point out that not all soldiers are country-loving saints.
Let us remember those that died, celebrate those that lived, and learn our lessons out of respect and pride in those that continue to fight and die for us.
As a veteran of Vietnam and the Persian Gulf Wars, I am humbled and deeply appreciative of the support from the people.
However, I am disturbed by Joey Preston's continued use of the county website to claim military awards and achievements which are mis-leading at best. He has never been in the military.
Also, have you notice how few veterans are serving in elective office and how few win when they do run? What does that mean?
in response to andrew.hammett
Talk about nit-picking and twisting!!! Andrew.Hammett took a general, and complimentary, comment and attempted to twist it into an argument. Methinks someone needs to chill---big time!
in response to waiting
Thank you, you said it quite well! I would not have been so nice; that's the reason I didn't respone.
To the 58,195 dedicated men and women that are listed on the wall......
THANK YOU!!!
To those that treated the returning troops like garbage and supported Jane Fonda and her agenda.......I hope you rot in that fiery pit that is mentioned numerous times in the Bible!!!!
(I'm on probation...I can't say it.)
As for the political side.....everyday men and women die doing their duty over in Iraq and Afghanistan. And while they may not agree with the polices that sent them there, they are still there putting their lives on the line. And while you may not like the policies that sent there either....the least you could do is stand behind them as they fight for this country. So that you may enjoy the type of life that you've become accustomed to.
And if you're not willing to do that.....then take your butt to another country far away from this one!!!!! We don't want you! And we sure as heck don't need you!
My family has two medal of honor winners...I couldn't let andrew.hammets comments stand. Thank you for your support of our country and for supporting our heros and veterans...
from the very small, yet very large...
Patriotic State of ....SOUTH CAROLINA
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