Dogwood Vietnam Memorial: Difference between revisions

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*Carl Reed Gibson - Second Lieutenant Gibson was a Marine and a forward artillery observer who died in the battle of Dao Do in 1968.  
*Carl Reed Gibson - Second Lieutenant Gibson was a Marine and a forward artillery observer who died in the battle of Dao Do in 1968.  
*Douglas Delano Wallace - Private First Wallace was a Marine Rifleman.   
*Douglas Delano Wallace - Private First Wallace was a Marine Rifleman.   
*Robert Edward Marshall - Robert Edward Marshall was a Warrant Officer (WO$) in the Marines.
*Robert Edward Marshall - Robert Edward Marshall was a Warrant Officer (WO4) in the Marines.
*Clyde R. Perry, Jr. - Clyde R. Perry was a Specialist in the Army.  
*Clyde R. Perry, Jr. - Clyde R. Perry was a Specialist in the Army.  
*James M. Kardos - Private First Class Kardos was an Infantryman in the Army.  
*James M. Kardos - Private First Class Kardos was an Infantryman in the Army.  

Revision as of 01:32, 6 February 2011

Vietnam.jpg

The Dogwood Vietnam Memorial, erected in 1966, is considered by some to be the first Vietnam memorial in the U.S. It is located in the eastern portion of McIntire Park[1], and is rededicated every year on the last day of the Dogwood Festival[2].

In the 1960s, the United States was at war in Vietnam. In 1966, the memorial was dedicated to those of the Charlottesville-Albemarle area who were killed or missing in action.[3] The festival was financed by Charlottesville Businessmen and Sol Weinberg, the future mayor of Charlottesville, was the first president of the festival. [4] There is a plaque listing those twenty-three men from Charlottesville and Albemarle who gave their lives for their country during the war. The memorial is rededicated every April, and twenty-three new flags are placed at it to honor those fallen men. The flag, which has flown over the nation’s capital building, is also replaced every year at the rededication. A different veteran of the Vietnam War is the guest speaker every year, and each year the old flag is given to them. [3] Also part of the rededication ceremony is trumpet rendition of “Taps”, a bag-pipe rendition of “Amazing Grace”, and a 21-gun salute.[3] Jim Shisler is the founder of this Vietnam Memorial, and as Dogwood board member is responsible for the planning and execution of the re-dedication ceremony each year.<[3]

The memorial is listed as a landmark of historic significance for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act[citation needed].


The Veterans Honored

The Memorial honors all soliders who fought in the Vietnam War, especially those from the Charlottesville-Albemarle area who gave their lives to the service. The list of those honored are[1]:

  • Champ Jackson Lawson, Jr. - Champ was an Army Specialist from Earlysville.
  • Grandville Anthony Jones - A Private First Class in the Army, "Tony" attended Lane High School in Charlottesville.
  • Erskine Buford Wilde - Erskine was an Army Private First Class in the Field Artillery.
  • John Devon Tyler - John was a Sergeant in the Army with a military occupational specialty in Multichannel Transmissions Systems.
  • Harvey Mulhauser - Harvey was a Captain in the United States Air Force who's plane went down over Laos. His body was never recovered.
  • Howard Eslie Hollar - Private First Class Hollar was a Marine serving as a helicopter machine gunner.
  • Roger Mark Link - Private First Class Link was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division.
  • Walter Franklin Payne - Staff Sergeant Payne was an infantryman with the 1st Cavalry.
  • Carl Reed Gibson - Second Lieutenant Gibson was a Marine and a forward artillery observer who died in the battle of Dao Do in 1968.
  • Douglas Delano Wallace - Private First Wallace was a Marine Rifleman.
  • Robert Edward Marshall - Robert Edward Marshall was a Warrant Officer (WO4) in the Marines.
  • Clyde R. Perry, Jr. - Clyde R. Perry was a Specialist in the Army.
  • James M. Kardos - Private First Class Kardos was an Infantryman in the Army.
  • Charles K. Butler - First Lieutenat Charles K. Butler was a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps and the recipient of two Distinguished Flying Crosses.
  • Richard Thomas Carter - Specialist Carter was a ground radar surveillance crewman.
  • Robert Hoyt Ruggles - Private First Class Ruggles was an Army Infantryman.
  • Wayne Dabney McRay - Specialist McRay was an Infantryman in the 11th Armored Cavalry.
  • Rodolph L. Nunn, Jr. - Rodolph Nunn was an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and a pilot of fixed wing aircraft.
  • Floyd Burnett Coates - Specialist Coates was an Army Infantryman from Culpeper.
  • Howell Frank Blakey - Lance Corporal Blakely was a Marine from Free Union, Virginia.
  • Walter Ross, Jr. - Lance Corporal Ross was a Marine from Bremo Bluff, Virginia.
  • Thomas D. Grinnell, III - Lance Corporal Grinnell was a Marine Field Radio Operator.
  • Oscar Mauterer - Colonel Oscar Mauterer was an Air Force pilot who's plane went missing over Laos. His body was never recovered. There is an "In Memory Of" Stone in his honor at Arlington Cemetery.

The names on the Memorial are approximately listed in the order of their death.

Meadowcreek Parkway

The Memorial is located in the eastern part of McIntire Park. [1], and is rededicated every year on the last day of the Dogwood Festival[2].

However, the proposed Route 250 Interchange of the Meadowcreek Parkway will potentially interfere with the memorial at its current location.

"There is the possibility of having it work in its existing site, but it's just as possible that it would have to be moved," Mike Svetz, the head of Charlottesville’s Parks and Recreation Department told the Daily Progress. If necessary, the memorial will be moved to a different location within McIntire Park.[2]. As a historic landmark, the terms of the National Historic Preservation Act must be met before the road project is approved. Many veterans are opposed to the possible relocation of the memorial. Some claim that it is disrespectful to those who are honored at the memorial. A final decision for the design of the interchange, and therefore, the future of the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial, will be made in February 2011. .[2]

DogwoodVietnamMemorial img5010a 569x403.jpg

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Web. Dogwood Vietnam Memorial, City of Charlottesville, retrieved 4/9/09.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Web. Dogwood Vietnam Memorial’s future uncertain, Seth Rosen, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, 6/12/2007, retrieved 4/09/09.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Web. "The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival", Smith, Elizabeth D. Wood, Google Books, retrieved 18 Nov. 2010.
  4. [1]