The South Boston community of those who served in Vietnam came together Sunday for an annual tradition, gathering for the 44th rededication of one of the U.S.’s first formal memorial to the Vietnam veterans.
“Back in 1981, it wasn’t fashionable to be a Vietnam veteran, and certainly wasn’t fashionable to build memorials to those who died in Vietnam,” said Tom Lyons, a Marine veteran who served during the war and organized the South Boston memorial. “I think we helped change the the attitude, if you will. It put a spotlight on Vietnam veterans in a different way; people saw them in a different light, one of honor. And by continuing to hold these yearly celebrations, it continues to create a positive image of those of us who served and sacrificed in Vietnam all these years later.”
The South Boston Vietnam Memorial in Medal of Honor Park, founded 13 years before the national Vietnam memorial in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 13, 1981, lists the 25 names of veterans from the neighborhood who died in the war.
The ceremony kicked off at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, starting with a memorial mass at St. Brigid Church before walking across to the park. About 30 to 35 Vietnam veterans — “old timers, if you will” — came out to the ceremony Sunday, Lyons said.
The group also invited eight veterans of the South Vietnam Army for the first time, who participated in a wreath laying. It was a “moving experience” not just for the eight Vietnamese veterans but the American veterans “to see potentially the men we fought beside,” Lyons said.
“We remembered 50 years later, the war ended, and the South Vietnamese people and the South Vietnamese veterans lost their country,” said Lyons. “We wanted to remember that today and to include them in our service.”
The memorial itself lists not just the 25 names, but reads also, “If you forget my death than I go in vain,” Lyons said. On the other side, it states, “To all the men and women who served during the Vietnam War, welcome home.”
Lyons said he read another quote during the ceremony Sunday: “Poor is the nation that has no heroes. Shameful is the nation that has them and forgets.”
“I think it set the tone for what the day was all about,” Lyons said. “We had these 25 heroes from our community and we wanted to continue to remember their service and sacrifice, and at the same time honor all those who have worn the uniform.”
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