A show of gratitude for Vietnam Vets felt deeply

A show of gratitude
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The field of red, white and blue stretching out before the patriotic crowd drew tears from many who remembered loved ones lost in the line of duty.

At the 25th annual Flag Day memorial ceremony by the Delaware Veterans, 58,000 miniature American flags fluttered in the humid breeze at Falls Community Park.

Named the Donald W. Jones Flag Memorial for local Sept. 11 victim Donald W. Jones, the afternoon ceremony started with a motorcycle rally by the Delaware Valley group. It drew more than 200 people Sunday and hundreds more for a Saturday concert that celebrated veterans' contributions.

Members of the Delaware Valley group and community volunteers stuck the flags in the grass on Friday. Each flag honors an American killed doing his or her duty. In the middle of the array of patriotic colors, volunteers planted a field of nearly 2,000 black flags to pay solemn tribute to soldiers still missing in action.

Together, the individual flags create the shape of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Patriotic songs set the mood, including a rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner," and "Amazing Grace" by the Bucks Caledonian Pipe Band and poems about remembering fallen soldiers by various speakers.

"It's altogether fitting and proper that we should have a day to recognize the symbol of this country and all it represents. Each of these three by five flags represents a human life. It represents a loved one. They gave their life for a principle, an idea," said Bucks County Commissioner James Cawley, one of several speakers that included various local lawmakers, veterans and their family members.
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William Dayton, who used to be Falls Supervisor and recommended holding the annual memorial at Falls Park, said the event helps war veterans heal. It especially helps those who didn't receive thanks when they came home from battle emotionally and physically scarred, he said.

"At night after the flags are put in the ground, Vietnam veterans come stand here. Some of them break down. It's an emotional cleansing. They saw a lot of ugliness over there. This is an in-your-face thank you. It's gratitude," he said.
A show of gratitude