COVINGTON Va. (VR) – Organizers got to see eleven months of hard work and dedication come to fruition on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 3, as the wall that heals mobile Vietnam veteran’s memorial made its way through Alleghany County on its way to Jackson River Sports complex. Area citizens throughout the Highlands came out in large numbers to witness the memorial being escorted in a parade of pride and patriotism. The momentous occasion began four days of celebrating our heroic veterans as they continue the healing process that began almost 50 years ago.
There were several special ceremonies held throughout the four-day event, each one with its own prestige and purpose.
Thursday morning in front of a large crowd, many of whom were veterans, the opening ceremony was held. Called the “Welcome Home Ceremony” it consisted of several speakers, each bringing awareness of pride and the weight of the enormous sacrifice each of our veterans made.
City Manager Allen Dressler started the event by thanking everyone who worked to get the memorial in Covington. He shared that the wall coming to Covington had been a process that began eleven months ago and started as the idea of one person. He thanked the students from the Jackson River Technical Center for building and donating the benches that were placed in various areas around the wall. Then in a short speech about giving thanks for the sacrifice that each veteran made and in honor of VFW post 1033, he declared Thursday, Oct. 3 The Wall That Heals Day.
VFW post 1033 commander and the Wall That Heals co-chair Shawn Wright was welcomed to the podium. She took a few minutes to welcome everyone and speak about the importance of educating our youth about American pride and the sacrifices veterans make. Commander Wright went on to give a brief history of how the wall came to be and its purpose. She then read a poem about soldiers’ purpose and honored them when they returned home. Upon finishing the poem VFW post 4299 Chaplain Thomas McHenry led everyone in an invocation prayer and VFW 1033 Chaplain Paul Linkenhoker led the presentation of colors. Stephanie Clark then came forward and sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
A key moment of the ceremony was when the commander explained the white table presentation, which is a small round white table with a place setting for one person. It is a symbol for and in remembrance of service members held as prisoners of war or missing in action. It is a table where no one will ever sit. It is decorated with symbols to remember fallen heroes. It has a white tablecloth that represents the purity of a soldier’s response to their country’s call to arms. It has an empty chair that depicts an unknown face which represents no specific service member, but all of them who aren’t home with us. It contains a bible that represents faith in a higher power and the pledge taken to one’s country founded as our nation under God. The round table shows that our concern for them is never-ending. It has a black napkin which stands for the emptiness each warrior has left in the hearts of family and friends. It contains a single red rose which reminds family and loved ones. It contains a red ribbon that shows the love of their country which inspired them to answer their nation’s call to serve. And a yellow candle which symbolizes the everlasting hope for a joyous reunion with those yet accounted. Lastly, an inverted wine glass to remind everyone of comrades who cannot be with us to drink a toast or join in the festivities of today.
Upon completion, everyone was welcomed and honored to hear from the event introduction speaker LTC Ralph Caldroney MD who welcomed to the stage the ceremonies keynote speaker Lt Col Robert Hopkins of VFW post 1499. Hopkins blessed everyone in attendance and had them all on the edge of their seats as he shared three short stories from his time spent as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. Anyone interested in hearing the Lt. Colonels stories is welcome to see the entire ceremony on the Virginia Reviews Facebook page. Dressler then welcomed to the podium Chuck Almarez who read a story he had written about the stone mined to create the Vietnam Memorial called Black Heart Granite. The morning’s events were then ended with some last remarks by Shawn Wright and a prayer by Thomas McHenry.
Another especially important ceremony was held Saturday evening at seven o’clock which is referred to as the Agent Orange ceremony. It calls attention to a troubling aspect of the war with many unintended consequences which many of our veterans are still suffering with to this day.
Commander Shawn Wright stood at the podium and described in detail America’s use of and the ramifications of the use of what is known as “Agent Orange.” Agent Orange is a chemical that the U.S. government approved the use of during the Vietnam War to kill the plants and foliage inside of Vietnam. The reason for doing so was because the country contained thick dense jungles which the Vietcong would use to hide from and often ambush American soldiers. It was believed through the use of Agent Orange which was seen as an enormously powerful herbicide they could kill these dense jungles and gain a real advantage over the enemy.
Unfortunately, the companies creating these chemicals used unapproved practices in the making of this chemical which ended up producing a powerful dioxin that was a carcinogen and caused horrible defects in women’s reproduction capabilities which caused and continues to cause birth defects. Over twenty million gallons of this poison was sprayed throughout the jungles of Vietnam contaminating not only the jungles but the people and wildlife as well.
The use of this terrible, now-banned chemical continues to afflict not only the people and jungles of Vietnam but our veterans as well. There’s no way to know exactly how many of our service members have been afflicted with and died from cancers because of the use of the terrible chemicals inside of Agent Orange. Commander Wright then read a beautifully written poem about the various afflictions caused in children and adults at the hands of chemicals used in the war.
After being led in prayer attendees were treated by hearing about the citations awarded to and the lives lived by three heroes of the war from the Alleghany Highlands area. Jennifer Unroe, a relative of one of the heroes, was then welcomed on the stage where she spoke about the legacy and life of her cousin and welcomed the next speaker. He spoke about his time in the war with Gary and talked about a story he had written and wanted to play for everyone about his time spent in Vietnam and the comradery of the ones he served with.
A very impactful part of the ceremony followed when members of veteran’s families got up and with a few words spoken lit a candle in remembrance of that service member who passed because of the effects of exposure to Agent Orange. The final and powerful moment in the evening’s festivities came when the wall was lit up in orange lights.
The final day of the Walls time spent in Covington came on Sunday when at approximately two o’clock a short closing ceremony was held. Allen Dressler gave some closing words about the impact of the wall on our area. And gave thanks to everyone who made the weekend events possible. Shawn Wright made her way to the podium, recognized all the veterans in attendance and with a few short words brought the event to a close.
It was an especially important event for so many veterans in our area and if you have not taken the time to do so, the next time you see a veteran shake their hand and tell them thank you.