Grateful countians pay respect to Vietnam vets

American Legion Commander Roy Bartlette salutes the ceremonial wreath in front of the Moving Wall during Saturday's ceremony in Shelbyville. (T-G Photo by John Philleo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Tears were shed by many Saturday as Bedford County honored its Vietnam veterans and their families at the opening ceremony for the Moving Wall memorial.

The ceremony took place under clear blue skies at Shelbyville's Riverwalk Park, and offered some closure for those who still suffer emotional wounds more than 30 years after the unpopular conflict ended.

"We are forever grateful," said Judge Robert Crigler in concluding the ceremony. "Our remembrance is embodied by this wall."

Bedford County lost 12 men to the Vietnam War: Charles Gilbert Tucker, Carl Rogers Stovall, Ben McCullough Jr., Donald Ray Stephenson, Hu Blakemore Rhodes, Clifton Lee Bowen, Roy Wayne Rich, Larry Wayne Neill, Jerry Michael Lovell, Charles Crawford Napper, Kenneth Bryant Beckman and Larry Eugene Mullins.

Keynote speaker Rear Admiral Jerry C. Breast urged the hundreds in attendance to turn any lingering feelings of hate into love through forgiveness.

"Love connot be felt until forgiveness is accomplished," he said. "We have to let the hurt go. Don't let the memory of a loss haunt you ..."

Although the Vietnam War is generally considered a failure for the United States, Breast said he considers it a success because it helped to stem the spread of Communism throughout Southeast Asia, and it served to enable the U.S. military to make the technological advances necessary to become the military power it is today.

Breast was one of several speakers, which included Wartrace Mayor Don Gallagher, State Sen. Jim Tracy, State Rep. Curt Cobb, Judy King of Rolling Thunder, Capt. Brent Lokey and Judge Crigler. U.S. Marine Corps Col. J.C. Lilly was unable to speak due to health reasons.

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Staff Sgt. Matt Doak served as master of ceremonies; pastor Douglas Moore gave the opening and closing prayers; American Legion Commander Roy Bartlette placed the ceremonial wreath in front of the Moving Wall; the Marine Corps League advanced the colors; Shelbyville Central High School Band performed patriotic songs, including a duet of Echo Taps by Zach Smith and Coleman Chambless; David Enzfelder played the bagpipes; Boy Scout Troop 370 led the Pledge of Allegiance; and members of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment fired a 21-gun salute.

Members of the 278th Armored Calvary fire a 21-gun salute at the ceremony. (T-G Photo by John Philleo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

One highlight of the ceremony was a flyover by an Air National Guard Apache helicopter. Immediately following the flyover, which was not confirmed until just a few days prior to the event, event organizer Gene Williams, curator of the Shelbyville & Bedford County History Museum, was visibly emotional.

"The timing of that was perfect," Williams said of the flyover with tears in his eyes. "That's further evidence that God is in control of this."

Williams, who has sought no personal recognition for his work in bringing the Moving Wall to Bedford County, said after the ceremony's conclusion that it couldn't have gone any better.

"God just took care of it; everything went perfect," he said. "It was a tremendous turnout."

Although he sought no credit, many heaped it upon him anyway.

"He doesn't want credit, but he deserves it," Crigler said.

"I want to commend Mr. Gene Williams -- thank him for all his efforts to bring the wall here so we could have the opportunity to pay our respects," said Gallagher early in the ceremony.

The Moving Wall will be in place at Riverwalk Park, off South Main Street in downtown Shelbyville, through Monday afternoon.