Montgomery County, Maryland Welcome Home

I know the last post said we would be revisiting North Carolina today, but it occurred to me that this might be of interest, too, as it is actually taking place today.

Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington D.C. is holding their official Vietnam Welcome Home today, the 24th of October. Called, Honor and Gratitude, Montgomery County Salutes Vietnam Veterans, the event is being held at the Universities at Shady Grove and will feature Bob Schieffer as the host and Cmdr Everett Alvarez, the first pilot shot down over Vietnam and held captive for 8 and a half years at the infamous Hanoi Hilton as a primary speaker. Five POW's from the County will be in attendance and I am told that this is a very rare event. I met one of them a couple of nights ago, Fred Cherry, and his story, not surprisingly, was incredible and inspiring.

Many other veterans and dignitaries will address the expected 1000 plus vets and their families and friends.

A documentary about local veterans will be an integral part of the ceremonies, which will be opened with a motorcycle rally sponsored by Battley Harley Davidson, Nam Knights, and other riding groups.

I am honored to say that I am featured in the documentary and will participate in the ride. In addition, I have been asked to set up a table featuring A Means to Heal and will be showing many, many pictures of Vietnam memorials from across the nation. I am featuring several printed photos, too and will post them here.

As many times as I have seen The Three Servicemen, I have never seen it appear more lifelike than on this day last December. I was just struck by how the sun highlighted the colors.

I make it a practice, when ever I find a memorial with statues, to try to get portraits of the solders portrayed. I particularly like these.

Wreaths Across America had just visited Arlington National Cemetery as they do every year and after visiting there, I came over to The Wall and was surprised to see that each panel had been honored with a wreath, too.

So, I hope that after today's event I will have additional photos and more stories and information to post here, so check back soon.

In the mean time, I will post from North Carolina, which had been scheduled for today, on the 29th, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from any state, just click on the state name on the left side of this page.