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From YouTube: Memorial Day – A Virtual Ceremony
Description
May 31, 2021
A
Good
morning
and
welcome
to
our
virtual
memorial
day
ceremony,
broadcast
live
from
city
hall,
asheville
north
carolina,
we're
truly
honored
today
to
have
you
with
us
this
memorial
day.
My
name
is
alan
perkau,
I'm
the
chair
of
bunker
county
veterans,
council,
one
of
the
sponsors
today's
ceremony,
along
with
the
city
of
asheville.
A
B
Vietnam
say:
can
you
see
by
the
dawn's
early
light?
What
so
proudly
we
hail
at
the
twilight's
gleaming,
whose
broad
stripes
and
bright
stars
through
the
perilous
fight
or
the
ramparts?
We
watched
we're
so
gallantly
streaming
and
the
rocket's
red
glare,
the
bombs
bursting
in
air
gay
proof
through
the
night
that
our
flag
was
still
there
oh
say:
does
that
star-spangled
banner
yet
wave
or
the
land
of
the
free
and
the
home
of
the.
B
C
D
D
First,
our
presenter,
dr
angela
williams,
is
the
acting
director
of
the
charles
george
v.a
medical
center.
Our
keynote
speaker
today
is
asheville
attorney
john
mason,
mr
mason
served
his
country
in
vietnam
from
1968
to
69
as
an
infantry
first
lieutenant
with
the
united
states
marine
corps.
Thank
you
for
your
service,
mr
mason.
D
E
Thank
you
mayor.
My
name
is
brownie
newman.
I
serve
as
chairman
of
the
buncombe
county
commission
and
on
behalf
of
the
buncombe
county
commission.
I
want
to
thank
everyone
who
has
come
together
today
to
help
us
to
honor
those
who
have
served
and
sacrificed
for
our
country
defending
our
freedoms
in
foreign
conflicts
throughout
the
decades
and
over
the
centuries.
E
A
F
Thank
you
alan
good
morning,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
and
thank
you
for
participating
in
this
year's
virtual
memorial
day
ceremony.
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
join
our
leaders,
local
veterans
groups
and
other
members
of
the
community
in
paying
our
respects
to
our
nation's
heroes.
We
observe
memorial
day
on
the
final
monday
in
may.
Each
year,
it's
a
day
filled
with
deep
respect
and
gratitude.
F
F
I
have
the
private
privilege
this
morning
to
put
out
flags
along
the
streets,
and
it
was
just
wonderful
to
be
a
part
of
your
community,
the
flags
that
are
lining
the
streets
of
the
city
of
asheville
and
other
surrounding
towns.
I
can
assure
you,
firsthand
with
that
support
we
receive
daily.
The
true
meaning
of
memorial
day
isn't
lost
on
our
surrounding
communities.
F
F
This
is
a
chance
for
us
to
do
something
that
really
matters
attend
ceremonies
like
this
one
place
flags
on
the
graves
of
veterans
at
local
cemeteries,
offer
to
help
a
veteran
or
their
family.
Yes,
memorial
day
is
more
than
just
another
holiday.
It's
the
chance
to
do
something
that
truly
makes
a
difference,
and
maybe,
most
importantly,
it's
a
chance
to
thank
a
veteran
for
their
service.
F
F
Since
our
nation's
beginning
more
than
a
million
men
and
women
have
died,
that's
an
overwhelming
number
when
you
think
about
it.
So
many
people
willing
to
pay
the
ultimate
price
for
our
country's
principles
of
freedom
and
for
generations
of
future
americans.
They
would
never
meet
people
like
army
private,
first
class,
george,
from
whom
the
va
medical
center
in
asheville
is
named,
born
in
neighboring
cherokee
north
carolina
private
first
class
george
was
a
member
of
the
eastern
band
of
cherokee
indians.
F
He
was
only
20
years
old
when
he
gave
his
life
to
protect
his
fellow
soldiers
during
the
korean
war.
According
to
the
medal
of
honor
citation
which
was
or
awarded
to
him.
Post-Mostly,
the
young
private
was
a
member
of
a
raiding
party
committed
to
engage
in
the
enemy
and
capture
the
prisoner
for
interrogation,
forging
up
the
rugged
slope
of
the
key
terrain.
The
group
was
subjected
to
intense
mortar
and
machine
gun
fire
and
suffered
several
casualties
throughout
the
advance.
F
He
fought
valiantly
and
upon
reaching
the
crest
of
the
hill
leaped
trenches
engaged
with
the
enemy
in
hand-to-hand
combat
when
friendly
friendly
troops
were
ordered
to
move
back
upon.
Completion
of
the
assignment
he
and
two
comrades
remained
to
cover
the
withdrawal,
while
in
the
process
of
leaving
the
trenches,
a
hostile
soldier
hurled
a
grenade
into
the
mist
private
first
class.
George
shouted
a
warning
to
one
comrade
pushed
the
other
soldier
out
of
danger
and
with
full
knowledge
of
the
consequences.
F
Unhesitantly
threw
himself
upon
the
grenade,
absorbing
the
full
blast
of
the
explosion.
Although
seriously
wounded
in
the
display
of
valor,
he
refrained
from
any
outcry
which
would
divulge
the
position
of
his
companions.
The
two
soldiers
evacuated
him
to
the
aid
station
and
shortly
thereafter
he
succumbed
to
his
wounds.
F
F
F
F
A
A
He
also
has
been
involved
in
civic
causes,
friends
of
the
great
smoky
mountains
and
a
major
contributor
to
the
inception
of
the
veterans
treatment
court
in
buncombe.
County
john,
was
also
instrumental
in
the
formation
of
north
carolina
veterans.
Writing
allowance
foundation,
a
501
c
3..
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
john
mason.
G
Alan
mayor,
meinheimer,
chairman
newman,
dr
williams,
judge
pope
judge
kathy
fellow
speakers,
honored
guests
veterans
and
all
of
you
in
attendance
virtually
thank
you
for
affording
me
the
high
privilege
of
speaking
on
this
day.
This
day
of
remembrance,
I
am
particularly
grateful
to
steven
henderson
and
ron
toller
and
alan
perkle
and
the
veterans
writing
alliance.
For
inviting
me,
the
alliance
itself
is
an
outgrowth
of
a
unique
therapy
created
by
dr
bruce
kelly
at
charles
george
v8.
G
G
G
It
is
often
a
day
of
fireworks
and
military
honors
a
day
when
the
flag
of
these
united
states
is
raised
at
dawn
to
full
staff
and
then
lowered
to
half-staff,
where
it
stays
until
noon,
and
then
it
is
raised
bristly
again
to
full
staff
until
sunset
in
honor
of
those
to
whom
this
day
is
dedicated
at
three
o'clock
this
afternoon.
For
a
minute
for
a
brief
60
seconds,
there
will
be
a
moment
of
silence
to
remember
and
honor.
G
G
G
G
G
G
Upon
hearing
of
his
squad's
distress
duncan
assembled
his
remaining
two
squads
plus
guns,
as
reaction
force
for
those
under
fire.
When
he
got
there,
his
entire
platoon
was
turned,
was
pinned
down
under
heavy
fire
from
automatic
weapons
and
small
arms.
The
artillery
forward
observer
was
hit
two
marines
kia,
another
six
wounded,
half
of
those
critically.
G
G
G
Second,
was
on
the
gun
target
line.
This
meant
it
was
between
the
battery
on
hill
55
and
the
enemy.
A
short
round
would
place
fire
directly
on
duncan's
on
duncan's
position.
Second,
was
ultima.
Also
in
a
danger
close
position
within
no
more
than
20
meters
from
the
enemy,
the
order
of
battle
and
tactics
of
the
situation
would
not
risk
friendly
casualties
from
artillery
or
air
support
unless
duncan
and
his
platoon
were
in
danger
of
being
overrun
and
so
far
the
enemy
had
not
tried
to
assault.
G
G
G
It
bellowed
smoke,
dropped
heavily
to
starboard,
righted
itself
and
was
away
to
hill
55..
Later
we
learned
that
it
crashed
on
the
hill,
the
co-pilot
was
wounded.
The
artillery
observer
wounded
in
the
initial
firefight
was
hit
a
second
time
on
the
medevac
marines
do
not
run,
do
not
withdraw
from
combat,
but
we
were
short
on
ammunition.
Faced
an
unknown
and
large
unit
of
the
enemy
had
half
a
dozen
wounded
who
needed
medical
attention.
G
G
G
Nearly
an
entire
squad
of
marines,
listen
to
tate
and
crawl
to
safety,
as
we
started
back
to
hill
55
third
was
on
the
left
flank.
What
was
left
of
second
and
the
cp
on
the
right
to
the
south
of
us
was
a
bad
area.
We
called
arizona
territory
to
the
east
where
we
were
was
dodge
city,
another
bad
area.
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
I
think
all
of
us
knew
exactly
what
was
likely
to
happen
and
wished
against
it.
We
saw
a
mist
rising
from
the
river
about
100
meters
ahead,
then
70,
then
50
then
30.
boom
pop
up
ak's
opened
up
swish
boom
rpgs
exploded
behind
us
corman
up
coin
up,
I'm
hit
get
down,
get
down,
comment
up
return.
Fire
move
through
move
through
bam,
crack
crack
crack
the
fog
of
war,
the
chaos
of
combat
where's
that
damn
artillery
support,
where's
the
support,
lieutenant
stay
down,
stay
down,
skipper
called
another
fire
mission.
G
Somehow
the
one
at
zero
600
had
been
cancelled.
We
had
o5
support,
even
though
part
of
the
company
was
on
the
gun.
Target
line,
bam,
bam,
bam,
fire
for
effect,
bam,
bam,
bam,
bam,
bam,
bam,
silence
for
food
moments,
then
small
arms.
Again
later
we
learned
my
company
assaulted
a
reinforced
nva
battalion.
G
G
The
nva
51
opened
up
again.
The
second
medevac
was
waived
off
corman
up
calling
up
anita
corman
cp
needs
the
corpsman
corman
up
doc.
Rep
the
corpsman
in
the
third
platoon
moved
back
to
the
cp
carefully
quickly
and
rendered
aid.
Another
five
minutes.
Another
air
strike
another
fire
fight,
another
medevac.
We
fought
there
all
day.
G
Platoon
commanders
were
called
to
the
cp
terry
williamson,
who
commanded
third
and
I
met
with
captain
van
reiper
bill
hardwick,
the
artillery
fo
was
there
gunny
sergey
gregory.
Was
there
john
valentine
serving
as
executive
officer
john
was
the
officer
I
replaced
as
commander
of
the
third
platoon
the
month
before
john
had
been
wounded
in
medevac
he
had
25
holes,
the
size
of
quarters
and
his
legs
duncan
slay
had
been
killed.
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
As
I
walked
back
to
my
platoon,
I
met
another
lieutenant,
a
platoon
commander
from
kilo
company,
whom
I
had
met
a
couple
of
weeks
before
I
don't
remember
his
name
duncan.
He
and
I
had
dinner
at
the
hill
50
sets
37
mess
hall
then
and
spent
the
night
together
in
a
hoot
used
by
lieutenants
going
in
and
out
of
the
bush.
G
G
G
A
A
We
want
to
thank
you
for
attending
and
have
a
safe
memorial
day,
especially
those
who
are
serving
our
country
in
harm's
way.
Also,
as
john
mentioned,
let's
do
what
we
can
to
help
put
memorial
back
into
memorial
day.
Please
pause
at
3
p.m.
For
a
moment
of
silence
to
remember
and
honor
those
who
have
died
in
service
to
our
country.
A
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
I
I
I
I
I
A
senior
enlisted
paratrooper,
who
went
home
in
a
flag-draped
coffin
and
placed
on
the
back
of
a
c-17
cargo
plane,
is
on
a
boot,
a
paratrooper
who
volunteered
for
another
tour
so
that
his
fellow
comrades
can
spend
more
time
with
their
families
is
on
a
boot,
seeing
the
names
the
faces.
The
dates
that
were
on
these
boots
made
me
realize
that
I
could
have
been
one
of
these.
J
J
K
E
J
J
J
J
G
J
I
also
brought
back
a
sneaky
hidden
disease
called
agent
orange
chronic
lymphocytic
leukemia
thanks
to
dow
chemicals,
dioxin
and
uncle
sam.
I
was
diagnosed
in
2008
38
years
after
returning
from
vietnam
and
thanked
the
good
lord.
My
disease
now
remains
at
stage
zero
or,
as
my
oncologist
calls
it
watchful
waiting.