7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
1/12
photo courtesy of American Veterans Traveling Tribute
SHOW meHerO Salute
this pog podcd by
Traveling Vietnam Wall on the campusofLindbergh High School
June 13 16, 2013
The City of Sunset Hills would like to thank
all the Vietnam Veterans
for their service and dedicaon
to our country.
www.sunset-hills.com 314.842.7265
The City of Crestwoodwould like to thank all theVietnam Veterans for theirService and Dedicationto our Country
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
2/12
2 South County Times www.show-meherosalute.orgSHOWHme HerO Salute
Chucks Bootswork H western H biker H uniform
300 Biltmore | Fenton, MO 63026 | 636.349.6633
5859 Suemandy Drive | St. Peters, MO 63376 | 636.970.2668
M-F 9-8 Sat 9-7 Sun 12-5
We Salutethe
Men & Womenof the
Armed Forces
to our veterans
www.midamericaarms.com8205 Gravois Road Affton (314) 631-3130
Tues - Thurs 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Fri 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
t cifc y mdwill b g.
thank You
A SAlute to
All VeterAnS
From everyone at
HaUSA
to all veterans
Thank You
or all yoursacrifces.
7225 Watson Rd. (314) 752-3131
12352 Olive Blvd. (314) 514-7800
183 Concord Plaza (314) 849-9700
729 Old Frontenac Square (314) 993-3277
www.hearusa.com
expert Audiology And HeAring AidS
Ask about ourVeterans Care
Program
Buy One Pack OHearing Aid Batteries
Get One PAck Free
Limit one pack per person with coupon. Exp. 7/7/13
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
3/12
www.show-meherosalute.org South County Times 3
The Traveling Wallhas made stops acrossthe nation and servesto educate, inspire andto provide a place forhealing for all thosewho visit. The Wallis an 80 percent scalemodel of the Vietnam
Veterans Memorialin Washington, D.C.,which honors U.S.Service members andarmed forces who diedor who were missingin action in the serviceof their country. Morethan 58,000 namesare etched into thememorial wall.
Wednesday, June 12The traveling wall arrives on the afternoon of June 12, escort-ed by a motorcade of vehicles, motorcycles and honor guard.
4 p.m. WallarriveswithescortatLindberghHigh School,5000S.LindberghBlvd.5 p.m. WelcomebyLt.EdwardSweeney,Jr.
U. S. Army, Ret.
Thursday, June 136 p.m. Welcome-ButchThomas,presidentofSunset HillsHistoricalSociety MasterofCeremonies-DonCorrigan,editor, Webster-KirkwoodTimes, SouthCounty TimesandWestEndWord ChaplainNorbertButzofMarineCorpsLeague PostingoftheColors-MarineCorpsLeague Cannononsi tewithcrewat attention PresentationoftheNationalAnthemby RichardConners,Vietnamveteran MedleyofPatrioticSongsbytheLindberghHigh SchoolMarchingBand, underthedirection ofDavidWeiss IntroductionofDr. JamesSimpson, superintendent,LindberghSchoolDistrict IntroductionofSunsetHillsMayorBillNolan IntroductionofGovernorJayNixon(tentative) KeynoteSpeakerJosephFrank BenedictionbyChaplainNorbertButz;Taps, MarineCorpsLeague
Friday, June 146 p.m. Welcome-ButchThomas,presidentofSunset HillsHistoricalSociety MasterofCeremonies-AnneAllred,KSDK-TV PostingofColors-AmericanLegionPost208 10thDistrict NationalAnthem-LindberghHighSchool StrollingStrings;ChaplainInvocation KeynoteSpeaker-CharlieDooley,St.Louis CountyexecutiveandVietnamveteran RetiretheColors-AmericanLegionPost208 10thDistrict BenedictionbyChaplainDavidHoward
saTurday, June 156 p.m. Welcome-ButchThomas,presidentofSunset HillsHistoricalSociety MasterofCeremonies- MartinKilycoyne, KTRSRadio RemarksbyCrestwoodMayorJeff Schlink
PostingofColors-St.LouisServiceWomens Post404ColorGuard NationalAnthem,PatrioticSongs-Concord SchoolFlyers,4th&5thgradechoir,underthe directionofValerieCreech Invocation-ChaplainMarianWhiteld,Air Force,St.LouisServiceWomensPost 404 KeynoteSpeaker- JudgeCharlesBerry, Vietnamveteran CongresswomanAnnWagner, 2ndDistrict Presentation-KatieMelies,presidentofGold StarMothers&Children;LindaHobkirk MemorialtoeightwomenlistedontheWall- ServiceVeteransPost404 Last RollCall; FallenSoldierDisplay Benediction- ChaplainMarianWhiteld ThreeVolleySalute- Post404Mil itary
FuneralHonorsTeam;Taps,MaryWeber RetrievalofColors-Post404ColorGuard
sunday, June 16Noon Welcome-ButchThomas,presidentofSunset HillsHistoricalSociety MasterofCeremonies-KevinKilleen,KMOX
Radio RemarksbyFentonMayorMikePolizzi PostingofColors-St.LouisServiceWomens Post404ColorGuard NationalAnthem-NicoleMoore,violinsolo Invocation-ChaplainFatherJosephA.Weber, U.S.AirForce-retiredcolonel;ParishPriestSt. JustinMartyr GuestSpeaker-WalterCrawfordJr.,executive directoroftheWildBirdSanctuary
Benediction-ChaplainFatherJosephA.Weber HonorGuard-AmericanLegionPost162, LemayMemorialPost
Vtm Wll dpl Pogm
Note:Reps romthe Mo.VeteransCommissionon hand9 a.m. to4 p.m. toanswer
questionsaboutveteransbenefts.
SHOWHme HerO Salute
T Wll vlblfo vtto 24
o bggT, J 13,
tl t clogcmo t oo o
s, J 16.
Since 1967
314-832-4040Fenton
www.spencerautoglass.comNorth: 314-731-2020 St.Charles 636-946-3293
A Grateful Nation
Thanks You
We ThankOur Veterans
For TheirService
Checkered FlagHobby Country5444 S. Lindbergh
314-843-7800www.cfhobby.com
in the Southfeld Center (next to Schnucks)
In war, there are no
unwounded soldiers. Jos Narosky
Join us inrememberingthe sacrifces madeby all our veterans.
Dill, Bamvakais
& Newsham, P.C.
attorNeysatlaw
(314) 631-02009939 Gravois Rd
St. Louis, MO 63123
Heating &
air conditioning
9900 Gravois Affton, MO 63123(314) 631-5300
harsterheating.com
Normally, we run ads to help you
remember our name.This one is to help you
remember theirs.
To all our veterans...Thank you.
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
4/12
4 South County Times www.show-meherosalute.org
The AmericanVeterans TravelingTribute Vietnam Wallcomes to St. LouisCounty largely
due to the eortso the Sunset HillsHistorical Society,many businesses andcivic organizationsand with a big assistrom local veteransgroups. Knownas the Show-Me
Hero Salute, aplanning committeeormed in January.The intention is topresent a digniedlocal memorialrespecting those whoserved, and thosewho served anddidnt return home.
by Joe LeichtRosann Shannon o Crestwood has
done the logistical juggling or more thana dozen parades in the South St. LouisCounty area. But the queue o vehicles,veterans and dignitaries assigned to leadthe American Veterans Traveling TributeVietnam Wall to Lindbergh High Schooldoes not constitute a parade.
It is denitely not a parade becauseo the solemnity o the event. Itsreerred to as an escort, Shannon said,emphatically. There wont be foats or300 to 400 vehicles. Thats not what thisis about.
The escort will assemble near theSocial Security oce, 8800 Watson Road(just east o Grant Road), beginning at2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12. The
escort will depart by 3:30 p.m.It will travel west on Watson Road and
turn south onto Lindbergh Boulevard.The escort should arrive at LindberghHigh School by 4 p.m. The Wall will beon display June 13-16.
All those involved in the Show-MeHero Salute are serious about preservingthe dignity o the procession, and theevents that ollow.
Youre not going to have individualsin cheerleader outts. Nobody witha calliope is going to be selling snowcones, said Tom Ford, the tributes honorcommittee chairman and a member oVietnam Veterans o America Chapter1028. The general rule is i you wouldnt
do it at the Tomb o the UnknownSoldier, youre not going to do it here.
Lt. Edward Sweeney Jr., U.S. Army,
Ret., will pronounce the ocial welcome,then volunteers will set about erecting thetents and the displays or the ollowingdays ocial opening.
Shannon said veterans groups rom agrowing list o municipalities, includingCrestwood, Sunset Hills, Shrewsbury,Fenton, Eureka, St. Peters and more, plusmore than 100 conrmed motorcyclists,will participate.
The American Veterans TravelingTribute Vietnam Wall comes to townthrough the sponsorship o the SunsetHills Historical Society. The wall is an 80-percent replica o the Vietnam Memorial
in Washington, D.C., and is inscribedwith the same 58,000 names.
The display will be set up as a
cooperative eort among the veterans,Boy Scouts o America, LindberghHigh School students and many othervolunteers. It will remain open June 13-16, day and night.
Its a healing situation or pretty mucheverybody. And there are a lot o peoplewho dont want to grieve in ront oeverybody else, said Ford. They mightwant to be here at three in the morning,thats why the tents wi ll be open 24/7.
Again, its not a parade, Shannonsaid. But I hope people will turn outand line Watson and Lindbergh as theescort passes. The stories o some o the
veterans and the entire idea o the Wallhas touched my heart.
Escort To Lead Vietnam WallTo Lindbergh High On June 12
photo courtesy of American Veterans Traveling Tribute
SHOWHme HerO Salute
Team Martin-Jetco
salutes Our Heroes
and their families.
Martin-Jetco Heating and Air Conditioning636.225.5854 | 314.647.130
EstatEPlanningCall Calvin R. Yeckel, Attorney if you
would like to discuss or are in need of:
l W & temelv tru
Durbe Power of aoreyProbe
Beefcry Deed
Re Ee trfer
Yeckel lawOffice, llc
12620 lmpghtr Sq.St. lous, MO 63128
314-525-7150
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and
should not be based solely upon advertisements
27 Ronnies Plaza
(314) 843-5223
South County
LICENSEOFFICE
9503 Gravois
(314) 631-1311
AfftonLICENSEOFFICE Extended Hours to Serve You Better
Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.Saturdays 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
On thy grave the rain shall fallfrom the eyes of a mighty nation.
Tomas William Parsons
7580 Watson Rd. 314-968-8900amishfurniturestl.com
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
5/12
www.show-meherosalute.org South County Times 5SHOWHme HerO Salute
WATSONRD.
LINDBERGHBLV
D.
GrantRd.
Sap
pington
Rd.
Gravoi
sRd.
Lindbergh
High School
8800 Watson Rd.(Social Security Office)
N
Vietnam Wall Escort RouteWednesday, June 12, with departure from 8800 Watson Road by 3:30 p.m.
Call314-849-1188 | www.bayada.com
Compassion. Excellence. Reliability.
With a broad range of services and a team of professionals who are
committed to keeping adults and seniors safe at home, BAYADA provides:
Nursingandassistivecare
Thoroughlyscreenedhealthcareprofessionals
Clinicalsupport24hours,7days
Avarietyofpaymentoptions
Henry S., a veteran, with his HHA GinneHumphries, with the Air National Guard
With BAYADA Home Health Care
Ginne is my safetyangel. I salute her.
Henry S.,Client
Proudly SalutesOur Veterans
Our Mission: To assist veterans whoprotected our freedom to stay in their
homes and live with dignity.
Morethan 10 Years experi enc e
314-514-2444 www.veteranshomecare.com
A 8715 Gravois Rd.(314)457-8000
Arld 3946 JeffCo Blvd.(636) 467-5000cafeaffton.com cafearnold.com
Ge Rewards!Join Ca Club and earn
FREE Caf cash! Sign up now atsyergylyaly.e/caeclubat get 25 Free Points!
Celebraig8 Years!CAf AfftonSaurday, Jue 8Bags Tournament
DJ-Live Music
Prizes & Freebies
Co-Owner Craig Smelik says Thank You to
his business partner, Frank Ginther, for his
service as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
6/12
6 South County Times www.show-meherosalute.org
by Joe Leicht
The majestic bird that symbolizesthe American spirit is slated to takewing on the last o our days dedi-cated to remembering veterans whoserved in Vietnam.
Walter Craword Jr. is dedicatedto preserving these winged wonders.He is also committed to ensuring thatthe sometimes under-appreciatedsacrices o Americans who served inthe Vietnam War are not orgotten.
At noon on Sunday, June 16, hellindulge both o those passions as oneo the speakers at the American Vet-erans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wallat Lindbergh High School, 5000 S.Lindbergh Blvd.
Craword, who is executive direc-tor o the World Bird Sanctuary in
Valley Park, served in Vietnam rom1968 through 1969. Like his name-sake ather, he is a U.S. Army man.In 2012, he was honored by Mis-souri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder as Distin-guished Veteran o the Year.
He holds a bachelors degree romSoutheast Missouri State Universityand a masters degree rom Mississip-pi State University. He is also ounderand vice president o the National
Wildlie Rehabilitators Associationand past president o the Interna-tional Association o Avian Trainersand Educators.
Craword said he is still work-ing on his speech or the Wall, Butwhenever Ive had the opportunity,
my theme is always pro-America.
Remembering the countrys militaryheritage, I will tailor my speech to theoccasion. I havent been able to makeit to the Wall in Washington, D.C., sothis will be a humbling experience. Iappreciate the Sunset Hills HistoricalSociety or setting this up.
I think every one o us sit andthink about our Vietnam experienc-es, whether you acknowledge it ornot. Its with you every night whenyou go to bed. I have a lot o riendsand buddies names on that Wall. Iwant to try to honor our brotherswhenever and wherever we can,said Craword.
The Vietnam War wasnt a cut
and dry situation. Some, not most,maybe looked down on us, especiallyi theyre World War II veterans. Theywon their war. We just did what wehad to do, Craword said.
Weather permitting, Craword willbring two bald eagles to the remem-brance to accompany his speech.Theyre our national symbol. Theyreour most popular bird and especiallyappropriate or this occasion.
Craword resides near the WorldBird Sanctuary in Valley Park and isa member o several area veterans or-ganizations.
Days and times or the manyspeeches and presentations that will
comprise the our-day remembranceare listed in the program on page 3.
Wildlife Biologist, DistinguishedVeteran, To Speak At Wall June 16
I think every one of us sit and think
about our Vietnam experiences, whether you
acknowledge it or not. Its with you every night
when you go to bed. I have a lot of friends and
buddies names on that Wall.
Walter Crawford Jr.
photo by Diana Linsley
More than 58,000 namesare etched into the Wall.
The largest age group on
the Wall is 18 years old 33,103. Twelve soldiers on the
wall were 17 years old. Five soldiers who died in
the confict were just 16 yearsold.
One soldier, PFC DanBullock, was 15.
Perhaps even morestartling than the loss o DanBullock at 15:
- 997 soldiers were killed
on their rst day in Vietnam;- 1,448 soldiers were killedon their last day in Vietnam;
- 31 sets o brothers are onthe Wall.
And, o course, that means31 sets o parents lost twosons in the Vietnam War.The names on the Wall arearranged in the order inwhich they were taken romus by date, and within eachdate are alphabetized. It is
hard to believe that we areapproaching 40 years sincethe last casualty.
Did YouKnow ...
SHOWHme HerO Salute
We proudly support our
VietnamVeterans
and all service men & women
Visit www.dirtcheapfunfun.com for a location near you
www.cyclehouseperformance.com
We Salute Our Heroes & Their Families
15% Discountfor Veterans, Police, Firemen
Expires July 31, 2013
8732 Watson Road Crestwood, MO 314-270-3312
CaseAutomotive
13580 Tesson Ferry Rd., St. Louis MO 63128
314.842.6233 Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00
$5 OFFMissouri Vehicle Safety
And Emissions Inspection
With coupon. Not valid with other offers. Expires 12/31/13.
With coupon. Not valid with other offers. Expires 12/31/13.
Brake Special$89.99
front or rearsemi-metallic at no additional charge
Most cars. With coupon. Expires 12/31/13.
$19.99Oil, Lube & Filter Service
includes up to 5 qts. of oilinstallation of new oil lter
lubricate chassis where applicable
Thank You
To our VeTerans
and Their
Families
hot and humid outside.cool and comfortable
inside.Bryant is giving everyone another reason to head indoors this summer. In fact, our new line features someof the best cooling products weve ever made. Not only built from the latest technology, but our products arealso 20% smaller than our prior l ine of 13 SEER models, so they take up less space in your backyard. All inall, its just our way of making your summer cooler than ever. Whatever it takesSM.
Quality Heating & CoolingFm w p s 1960
Factory authorized Bryant dealer
314-961-3181 314-849-6466Participating contractor for Ameren Missouri, residential optimization program
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
7/12
www.show-meherosalute.org South County Times 7
Morris L. Butch Thomas, presidento the Sunset Hills Historical Society, isimpressed by the number o local civicand veterans groups that joined in the e-ort to bring the American Veterans Trav-
eling Tribute Wall to St. Louis.Our Show-Me Hero Salute commit-
tee grew in size with every week since itsstart in January. We are genuinely grati-fed by the number o civic and veteransgroups who have eagerly joined in thiseort to show our Vietnam veterans, andall veterans, that they are never orgottenand they are always appreciated, saidThomas, who is chairing the event.
Every day the Wall is here will bememorable, beginning Wednesday, June12, when the wall arrives and an escortmotorcade travels through Crestwood on
Watson Road, noted Thomas. Then itwill travel down South Lindbergh to thehigh school where there will be a cannon
volley welcome. On Thursday, there willbe music and a patriotic program andmany notables including local mayors,county ofcials, legislators and leadersin state government.
Thomas said the daily programs willbe short, as the major unction o thewall will be to create a solemn, reverentand meditative site.
Chaplains will be available or visi-tors as needed. St. Anthonys MedicalCenter will provide a First-Aid acilityon site. Computers will be available andassistance given to help visitors to thescale-model memorial locate the nameso their loved ones on the various panelso the Wall.
The Show-Me Hero Salute has sched-uled special events (see schedule, page3), but the Wall will be available or visi-
tation 24 hours a day until the closingceremony at noon on Sunday, June 16.
Two generations ago, America ound
itsel embroiled in the hottest war othe Cold War era in Southeast Asia. TheVietnam Wall documents the Americanloss o lie in a war that is generally re-corded as lasting rom 1959 through theall o Saigon in 1975. This year marksa series o 50th anniversaries in the in-tensifcation o the war and an increasein Americas presence in Vietnam andSoutheast Asia.
This is an ongoing event that is hap-pening now and will not simply endwhen the Wall comes down on Sunday,
June 16, said Thomas. We welcomethose who have a story to tell to do soat the Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall.This is a community event that is ree
and open to the public and we are goingto do our best to live up to our theme:Honor, Respect, Remember.
Civic, Veteran Groups Join RanksIn Organizing Traveling Wall Event
photo courtesy ofAmerican Veterans Traveling Tribute
SHOWHme HerO Salute
I quickly became impressed with the
customer service I received at Eagle
Bank. And as a veteran in a wheelchair,
I was also impressed with the accessibilityof the different locations with their wide
doors and automatic door openers.
These accessibility accommodations
are not found at many banks and I
really appreciate Eagle Banks efforts on
behalf of the disabled community.
Stanley D. Brown
Col. (Ret.), US Army
1052 S. Kirkwood, Kirkwood, MO 63122In front of Target
314-965-8686EagleBankAndTrust.com
Eagle Bank NMLS# 411376
Let us amaze you!
. : :
Good deeds! Great deals!www.savers.com
THRIFTSUPERSTORE
25% OFFCoupon not valid on sale days, new merchandise (red tags)or with any other discount. One coupon per person.
Vl ol 9618 Wo R., Crwoo, MO 63126
yOuR dOnatiOn benefits VietnaM VeteRans Of aMeRiCa
Prol sl h
accomplhmo or doo Prr,
th Vm Vro amrc!
Please donate directly to the Crestwood Savers to beneft
th Vm Vr o amrc!
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
8/12
8 South County Times www.show-meherosalute.orgSHOWHme HerO Salute
PROUD SPONSORSof the
Show-Me Hero Salute
Generals($5,000 or more)St. Louis County Economic Council (Port Authority)Webster-Kirkwood Times/South County TimesSt. Louis County Police DepartmentKingston ElectricCarpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis
Lindbergh Schools
Colonels ($1,000 or more)
Sunset Hills Historical SocietyAl & Bette Moore
Missouri Humanities CouncilVietnam Veterans of America Chapter 611 Bevo
AT&TVietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1028
Byerly Trailer
The Home Depot
WalgreensCity of Sunset HillsCity of Crestwood
McArthurs Bakery
Majors($500 or more)Sunset Hills Mayor Bill NolanButch and Linda ThomasCrestwood Sunset Hills Rotary ClubJoyce and Glen FranklinFrank A. HardyKirkwood Amvets Memorial Post 1
South St. Louis Marine Corps League Chapter 183Laborers International Union of North AmericaPvt. George Phillips Detachment Marine Corps LeagueAmerican Legion Post 162 LemayAmerican Legion Post 400 FentonSaale ChiropracticHoliday Inn SouthSappington-Concord Historical Society
(Donation may include in-kind goods and services.
For a more complete listing of all contributors, visit show-meherosalute.org)
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
9/12
www.show-meherosalute.org South County Times 9SHOWHme HerO Salute
Welcome to Holiday...
Welcome Home
Theres a special feeling of kinship at a HolidayRetirement community that seniors wont experienceanywhere else. Its a combination of joyful neighborsembracing life, friendly staff who go out of their way tomake each day special, and a comfortable environmentthat makes seniors know this is right where they belong.
Nobuy-infeesorlong-termleases CableTVandALLutilitiespaid Live-inmanagersavailable24/7 Complimentarytransportation Threenutritious,chef-preparedmealsfromscratch
and served daily
Lakeview Park Fenton
1393BowlesAvenue636.326.9606
briarcrest estates ballwin
14525ClaytonRoad636.391.5300
orchid terrace south county
4474ButlerHillRoad314.487.3367
www.holidaytouch.com
A veteran is someone who, at one pointin his or her life, wrote a blank checkmade payable to The United States ofAmerica, for an amount of up to andincluding my life. Anonymous
I
-
270
TESSON FERRY
LINDBERGH
BAPT
IST
CH
UR
CH
BESTCONCORD
PLAZA
-
314-894-9922 Mon - Sat 10-7, Sun 12-5
11182-B South Towne Sq. St. Louis 63123Behind Denny's in South County
Worlds Largest Chair Manufacturer! AMERICAN MADE
BUY AMERICAN by AMERICANS! *700 FABRICS & LEATHERSCUSTOM BUILT WITHIN 3 WEEKSROCKER REClinERs+ $50
Just in time for Father's Day!
FREE PowER
FREE DELIVERY!wall Huggersor
(Exp. 6/16/13)
$399+Free
power
WOW
$449+Free
power
WOW
$499+Free
power
BIGMENS
$499+Free
power
BONDEDLEATHER
$549+Free
power
GENUINELEATHER!
$599+Free
power
ecliners
Savesyou
$250Prior Sales Excluded.
$399 Minimum
RockeR ReclineRs + $50
Recliners!
Lifetime Frame and Mechanism Warranty
Home o tHeState Street MeatloafRolled and stued with roast bee, pepperoni and three
cheeses. Served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable.
Guaranteed to fll you up!
$14.95
try our otHer ireHouse specialties: Hook & Ladder Strips
Barn Burner Burger
Portabella Pike Poles
Bualo Chicken Wrap and many more!
A Place to hangYour
Helmet
Help us support Backstoppers...Round your check up to have the dierence
donated to Backstoppers, or toss your change
into the donation bucket.
ak b dn v, f nd.
3500 l rd.1/2 nh lndbgh
314.892.6903Owned and operated by active and ormer
frefghters, their amilies and riends
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
10/12
10 South County Times www.show-meherosalute.org
by Alice DunawayFor Honorable Judge Edward Sweeney,
the arrival o the American Veterans Trav-
eling Tribute Wall to St. Louis County ismore than an event its ulllment o amission. Sweeney, himsel a Vietnam vet-eran, served on a committee to raise undsto build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C.Sweeney will speak at the Traveling
Wall site at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June12. He said the Traveling Wall is a greatopportunity or those who cant travel to
Washington to see the Vietnam VeteransMemorial on the National Mall.
Millions served in the war. Some inVietnam, some in the Navy o the coast,some in the Air Force. All o those people amily members, and those aected can go see this traveling Wall, Sweeney
said.The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
(VVMF), a nonprot, charitable organiza-tion, began in 1979 ater Congress reusedto publicly und the memorial. VVMFraised $8.4 million in private donationsrom more than 275,000 individuals, vet-eran organizations and committees, busi-nesses and unions.
We had a group here in St. Louis thatput together an eort to raise money orthe memorial, Sweeney said.
Local committees did not have any in-put into the design o the memorial. ButSweeney said the controversial chosen de-sign did make it dicult to raise unds.
To satisy contributors, a statue with
three soldiers carrying inantry weaponswas added to the Vietnam Veterans Memo-rial in Washington, D.C.
The memorial should not be just tothose who died, but all o those who didtheir duty to their country, Sweeney said.
Most veterans wanted to orget the warand to put it in the past. I think the actthat there is a memorial does something tohonor those who served their country.
The Wall has a lot o meaning orSweeney, who spent a year in Vietnamwith the 101st Airborne Division.
I think, in many ways, the Wall speaksor itsel, Sweeney said. I look at the Walland I see names o kids rom my kinder-garten and grade school. I see the nameo a kid I went to high school with whoplayed ootball up there. I see the names okids rom the Army on the Wall.
Sweeney attended the University oMissouri-Columbia, where he majoredin political science and participated in
ROTC. He graduated in 1969 and spent ayear in the U.S. Army beore being calledto active duty in Vietnam. He was one othe oldest men in his unit.
Sweeney saw action in the northern-most region o South Vietnam, close to thedemilitarized zone that bordered North
Vietnam. He spent most o his time onrebases, with the goal to protect the
Vietnamese people.Firebases were positioned to protect
the people, Sweeney said. As with thetroops today, you dont know who is theenemy until they do something hostile. Itsnot good psychologically.
Much o Sweeneys experience was in-fuenced by his location in Vietnam.
I spent most o my time stationed onrebases. The ew civilians near us werethe Montagnard, who were a more primi-
tive, tribal people. We were in the moun-tains that, i they werent deoliated, weremostly jungle, Sweeney said. My expe-
rience was much dierent than someonewho was stationed near a village or was ina swampy area.
Sweeney respected the men with whomhe served.
The favor o camaraderie was mademuch more valuable because you did havepeople rom all walks o lie, Sweeneysaid.
During his year in Vietnam, Sweeneysaw a number o celebrities as they stoppedo to entertain troops.
I saw Bob Hope right beore Christmas.I took a number o soldiers rom my unit.Some people got to go and some peoplehad to stay back. I was lucky to take someo my men to the show, Sweeney said.
We got there early and we were ortunateto get a good seat. It was right at the endo monsoon season, but the weather wasclear and perect, and the show went onwithout a hitch.
Ater his time in Vietnam, Sweeney im-mediately went to law school.
I knew I wanted to go to law schoolin college. I lled out my application in
Vietnam and I got my acceptance whenI was still there, Sweeney said. It wasvery helpul that I had that goal. It gaveme something to immerse mysel in whenI returned.
Once home, Sweeney returned to theUniversity o Missouri-Columbia wherehe earned his law degree. He served as a
Missouri legislator rom 1975-1980. In1997, he was appointed an associate cir-cuit judge or the 22nd Judicial Circuit.
Voters retained him in 1998 and 2002. Hewas appointed a circuit judge in January2005.
Sweeney said he has made it his goalto make sure that no one orgets why theyenjoy the reedoms they do.
My service is something I will neverorget and something I am proud o,Sweeney said. I tell every jury at the endo every case that we take our rights orgranted. Its good to remind people we areenjoying rights because o the willingness
o veterans.
Honorable Judge Edward Sweeneyphoto by Diana Linsley
Judge Edward Sweeney Helped Raise Funds ForVietnam Veterans Memorial In Nations Capital
SHOWHme HerO Salute
11432 Concord Village 314-843-8087
We pay Tribute toour Heroes
A Saluteto our
Heroes
Donelson Cycles, Inc.The Motorcycle People
11314 Concord Village Ave.
(314) 849-1830
yamahasouth.com
Never forget.ThankyouToall
ofourveTeransfrom
www.crawfordbutz.com
We thank the active,retired and fallen
men and womenin uniform for theirservice to our country.
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
11/12
www.show-meherosalute.org South County Times 11SHOWHme HerO Salute
by Megan FavignanoWhen Guy Leonard joined the U.S.
Marine Corps., he didnt know he would
be assigned to the battalion nicknamedThe Walking Dead.
Everywhere they went they got into abig ght, Leonard said.
Leonard joined the U.S. Marinesand attended boot camp whenhe was 18 years old. He saidhe did it because he wantedto experience somethingnew. He saw the militaryrecruiters in downtown St.Louis on his way to workone day and decided on thespot to sign up.
I was hanging around some othe wrong people and decided to dosomething dierent, Leonard said.
He said his amily was surprised byhis decision since he hadnt talked about
joining the military beore signing up.Leonard said the thought o joining hadcrossed his mind previously but not in asignicant way.
Leonard was assigned to the 1stBattalion o the 9th Marines, whichsomeone at the time told him they calledthe dying nine.
When the time came to go to Vietnamin 1967, Leonard said he was excited butalso anxious.
Probably in the back o my mind, Iwas a little bit apprehensive, he said.Because you know people get killed andits your turn (to ght).
Leonard surv ived the battles he ought,the biggest being that o Khe Sanh in1968. One battalion o the 9th Marineswas called in to help at a U.S. combat basenear the Khe Sanh perimeter in Vietnam.North Vietnamese military attempted toblock them and attacked the combat base.Leonard said the battle started around 4in the morning and lasted until around9 a.m. A little less than hal o the 64marines in that battle died. Leonard wasinjured three times by shrapnel.
Once he had been injured, he wentinto a bunker on the hill with anotherMarine.
I was gross. Both my eyes, blood wascoming out o everything, Leonard said.
Leonard said when he realized how
injured he was, he started going into shock.He received a morphine shot. Fiteenminutes later, the battle ended. Leonardwas sent to a hospital to recover.
I saw mysel in the mirror andit didnt even look like me. Theside o my ace was all burnt,Leonard said.
His injuries sent him back tothe United States and out owar or about eight months.He spent the majority o
his recovery in a hospital inMemphis, Tenn.
Ater being released rom the hospital,Leonard ended up in North Carolina atCamp Lejeune. While there, he worked a
typical business day, printing maps. Atera ew months, he was sent to Cuba to besecurity at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.Leonard said he enjoyed talking to theyounger Marines working security at thebase.
I was teaching the young guys thathadnt been to Vietnam things aboutcombat situations, Leonard said. Theycan only teach you so much stu in bootcamp.
Leonard ended up back in St. Louisin 1970. When he came back, he said heremembers the city still seeming amiliarto him. His time in the Marines inspiredhis younger brother Roger to join themilitary when he was old enough to do so
in the mid-1970s.Leonard likens being a Vietnam
veteran and a member o the 1st Battaliono the 9th Marines to being in anexclusive club. He said veterans alwaysacknowledge one another.
With the Vietnam Veterans MemorialWall coming to St. Louis, veterans willhave the opportunity to see one anotherand refect. Leonard said he likes seeingthe wall travel around the country.
A lot o people cant aord or take thetime to get to Washington, D.C., to see the
Vietnam Memorial Wall there, Leonardsaid.
Vietnam Vet RefectsOn The Walking Dead
We Appreciate our Vietnam Veteransand Their Families
8500 Watson Road St. Louis 314-843-5600
fshinhole.trackerboatcenter.com
314-756-9444SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR COUPONS
www.scottleeheating.com
24 Hour Emergency Service
We service all makes and models
Call for Commercial Maintenance Quotes
Ask about our Precision Maintenance Agreement Program
We Salute our Vietnam Veteransand Their Families...
Since 1978
Dave PREMIER DealerRebates and Tax Credits Available on Qualifying
Lennox Cooling/Heating Systems InstalledExp. 12-31-13
Let Us Never ForgetLet Us Never Forget
www.raintunnelexpress.com
WebsterGrovesLions.com
With sincerest gratitude
and respect or all
American military men
& women o the past,
present, and uture
The Webster Groves
Lions Club
Thanks you
or your sacrifce and
service to our nation.
With sincerest gratitude
and respect or all
American military men
& women o the past,
present, and uture
The Webster Groves
Lions Club
Thanks you
or your sacrifce and
service to our nation.
7/28/2019 Show-Me Heros Salute
12/12
12 South County Times www.show-meherosalute.orgSHOWHme HerO Salute
A Salutt ourArmed
ForcA Complete Heating, Ventilation and Cooling Company for 5 Generations
636-349-499024-Hour Emergency Service: 314-995-0344
Big Bend @ Murdoch 314-968-5167 www.wgsis.com
St. Louis Oldest Subaru Dealer
Webster Groves
In memory of our
Brothers and Sisters
who gave theUltimate Sacrifice
missouricoin company
Over 30 Years experience
(314) 965-9797www.mocoin.com 11718 Manchester Des Peres (Next to Carrollton Bank)
HOURS: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Our Hearts are withthe Men and Women
Who Served our Country