Field of Flags Ceremony honors Vietnam Veterans

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The Vietnam veterans appreciation ceremony started out with an open letter to the governor published in the Emery County Progress. The letter was written by Lou Sansevero of Ferron. Gov. Herbert’s office was quick to respond to the letter and the months of planning for the Vietnam veterans appreciation ceremony began. After months of planning and coordination the event was held on Sept. 10 in conjunction with the Peach Days Field of Flags. Ferron Mayor Trent Jackson welcomed everyone to the event. He asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of Sept. 11.
Mack Huntington, an Army Vietnam veteran addressed the crowd. He said, we are here to honor those who gave their lives, those who served and those who are still missing in action. We also honor those who have suffered physically and mentally and those who suffer from the affects of agent orange. Thanks to everyone from all of us and to American Legion posts 39 and 42.
On April 6, 1971, a plane touched down in California. The pilot said welcome home you are on U.S. soil. Forty-three years later in Richfield, I heard the same words and thank you. It has taken that long to say thank you. There are many things I can say I am grateful for. I am grateful for serving with good men and women in the military and how so many support our troops.
Huntington shared the Song of the Infantry, “You can hear it in the heat of the jungle. You can hear it across the sea. It calls to every freedom loving man.
The cry of the US Infantry. Follow Me! Follow Me! From Concord Bridge to An Khe Ridge. Through the swamps and mountains and sand. They fight and die where brave men lie. Against all tyrants they stand. You can hear it in the heat of the jungle. You can hear it across the sea. It calls to every freedom loving man. The cry of the US Infantry. Follow Me! Follow Me!”
Lou Sansevero, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran gave patriotic remarks. Sansevero said, I can remember on July 29, 1975 watching television as the last of our troops were leaving Saigon. I had tears in my eyes and thought to myself, “What was it all for.” I happened upon the poem, It is the Soldier by Charles Province. “It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest. It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag. Who serves beneath the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.” The line “It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote,” sticks out to me at this time because of the election. Ladies and Gentleman, we have the right to vote. We have the constitution that gives us our rights. “That’s what it was all for.”
We were disrespected. We were forgotten. We still loved our country. All of us bear the scars inflicted by our fellow countrymen. Thank you for your service goes a long way. On behalf of myself, I want to express my gratitude to those who have worked so hard to render these long over due honors. Behind me is 400 flags. They represent the 2,977 victims of the September 11 attacks. Three of the victims were under the age of five. Thousands of men and women have sacrificed to take out those who cut so many peoples lives short. God bless our veterans, our men and women serving, our future veterans here in this audience and God bless the U.S. The Marine Corps motto is Semper Fidelis, Latin for “always faithful,” Semper Fidelis became the Marine Corps motto in 1883. It guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no matter what.
Gov. Gary Herbert said, it is an honor to be here. I want to recognize Mike Mower from Ferron, who has taught me all roads lead to Ferron. I was in the Army National Guard for six years and was a Staff Sgt. It brings a tear to my eye when I see those who serve and protect our constitution. I think of heroes like James Hill, Milt Wiseman, Kirk Perkins and Lou (Sansevero) and many others. These are heroes we should emulate. I believe there are opportunities to help others and to serve others. I know heroes who look just like ordinary men and women. If you look around you can find them. During the Vietnam war approximately three million participated, 58,220 were killed, 304,000 were wounded, 14 Utahns are listed as POW/MIA and 361 Utahns were killed. They are heroes one and all.
I visited our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was 120 degrees and the soldiers had full body armor on. I visited Bagram Air field, from here they send the wounded to Germany. I went to the hospital in Germany. The last room I came to I found one soldier in a wheel chair and two others. They were from the country of Georgia. Through an interpreter they wanted to let me know what an honor it was to serve alongside with the Americans. This was a country that was once part of the Soviet Union, they understand the principles of freedom. It’s about freedom, it’s about ideas, it’s what makes America great. We all have roles to play. To those who gave, to those not with us, to the families who stand beside our veterans, thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Sen. David Hinkins thanked Gov. Herbert for attending the service. He said, the Utah National Guard is one of the first to be called. They are sent all over the world because of their knowledge and expertise. Our children are our future. If we don’t teach them patriotism where are they going to learn it from. I was 19 in 1973. I saw my friends, classmates and neighbors serve in the war. My brother-in-law served in the Vietnam War. When they came home we didn’t stand up for them. The 95 percent of us who didn’t serve should be ashamed of ourselves for not standing up for them.
The Vietnam veterans didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Thank you to those who served.
Clifford Snow gave the closing remarks. He said, our veterans are the reason we live free in this country. We were called, we went and we served. Some never came home and we honor them with the flag (POW/MIA) on this chair. Some came home, but never really returned home because of the scars they bear.
Gov. Herbert then presented pins and spoke to each of the Vietnam veterans and their spouses in attendance. They were given a pin, video and a book. The spouses were given a spouses pin and a flower. The ceremony concluded with American Legion Post 42 retiring the colors and Pastor Tim Lacock closing in prayer.