News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Wall That Heals officially opened to visitors Thursday as hundreds of veterans and citizens gathered for opening ceremonies.
“This week is about honoring these brave men and women who fought in Vietnam,” Putnam County Executive Randy Porter said.
Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder said in the Volunteer State everyday should be Veterans Day. Grinder received the Bronze Star Medal, serving in Operation: Enduring Freedom.
“Today only one percent of Americans serve, but 100 percent of us can honor them,” Grinder said. “We need to teach our younger generations that freedom is not free.”
Grinder said the nation is “so sorry” for the way it treated the Vietnam veterans, now understanding the difference between the leaders who decide to fight and those who do the fighting.
“Now, you can wear your caps, you can wear your shirt, you can be proud of your Vietnam service,” Grinder said. “Because of you, our veterans come home and receive that welcome that you should have received.”
“Welcome home, God bless you.”
Grinder said the nation continues its work to bring those missing in action home. She said during her seven years in office, she has seen the remains of five World War II veterans, seven Korean veterans, and seven Vietnam veterans returned to Tennessee.
Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said the wall’s arrival gives everyone the opportunity to stand with these veterans.
Using the word STAND, Shelton said we can understand the sacrifices of the veterans while seeing the wall as a tribute to those veterans. A stands for admiration and Shelton said its important that we all understand how the Vietnam veteran suffered when they came home. Shelton said he hoped we as a society learned the lesson about admiration of those who fought.
The veterans serve our nation and do so with determination, Shelton said.
Local leaders and veterans laid a wreath at the name of nine Putnam County residents who lost their lives in Vietnam.
Porter said hundreds of volunteers and county staff worked thousands of hours to make the Wall That Heals possible.
The ceremony featured Liberty resident Aaron Tippin singing his patriotic hit “Where The Stars And Stripes.” Pigeon Forge’s Challenger the Eagle showed his wings as Tippin finished the song. The Ft. Campbell Band opened the day’s events.
The wall, open through Sunday, features than name of the 58,300 veterans who lost their lives in Vietnam.
