| Update
7/27/01: Tom Aki, pictured below, writes: "Last
Friday the Viet Nam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter
53 of South Bay Area in Redondo Beach had a dedication
ceremony. After much hard work, they had the Pacific Coast
Highway from the Ventura County line to the Orange County
line dedicated as the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Highway." |
Mayor Doug Hayes presides
over dedication ceremonies
in Sierra Madre's Memorial Park
My parents, Col. Spencer Edwards and Betty Lee Edwards
Weeping Wall designer Louis Watanabe
Viet Nam veterans Sal Gomez and Tom Aki
Ola
Smith, Sierra Madre veteran who served in the Philippines and the
Yukon Territories
|
APRIL
24, 1999
SIERRA MADRE, CALIFORNIA—
Yes, I had a good reason to attend Saturday morning ceremonies
in Sierra Madre's Memorial Park. Not only is this tiny foothill
village my home town, but my father, who served in both Korea
and World War II, was one of the honorees.
"I'm
wearing my blue uniform," he told me. "It still
fits."
And
fit it did. The only hint that this was not the Colonel Spencer
Edwards I knew as a child was his neatly trimmed snow white
beard.
The
occasion was the dedication of a new memorial honoring all
Sierra Madre veterans. The Weeping Wall, a black granite sculpture
and fountain, was the decade-long project of Louis Watanabe,
who was on hand to describe the monument's circuitous path
from concept to reality.
"In
the spring of 1987, I had a bunch of granite piled up in my
backyard," he said, "And I wanted to do something
different." Although the idea of a "weeping wall"
was born that day, the project had a long road to manifestation.
"It was easy to start," said Lou, "But much
harder to finish."
If
the three hundred people in attendance were any indication,
the Weeping Wall was well worth its creator's efforts. Sierra
Madre's mayor, Doug Hayes, presided over the ceremonies, and
pastors from each of the town's churches spoke and lead the
assemblage in prayer. In conclusion, a veteran honor guard
fired a salute, and two buglers played taps.
After
the dedication, I met Ola Smith, a longtime Sierra Madre resident
who served as a nurse in the Philippines and the Yukon Territories
during World War II. I also spoke with Sal Gomez and Tom Aki,
who had been childhood friends and had served simultaneously
in Viet Nam for three years without knowing it. A chance meeting
at a dedication ceremony in 1997 allowed them to renew their
friendship. Both wore bracelets inscribed with the names of
comrades and relatives who are still missing in action. Tom's
father has been missing in Korea since 1950. Sal wore a bracelet
in memory of over 78,000 men and women who have been missing
since World War II.
We
must not forget. Sierra Madre has given us a beautiful new
way to remember.
|
