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From YouTube: 38th Anniversary of South Boston Vietnam Memorial
Description
For the last 38 years and for many more years to come, South Boston will always remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. Mayor Walsh joins Governor Charlie Baker, former Chief of Staff to the president, John Kelly, Congressman Steven Lynch, South Boston native and Vietnam veteran Tom Lyons, and other Boston veterans, for the 38th Anniversary of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial. Gold Star families are honored for the sacrifices that their twenty five loved ones made, by placing a rose at the South Boston Vietnam Memorial Stone.
B
Let
us
pray
God,
o
a
father.
We
ask
your
blessing
upon
us
today
as
we
remember
and
honor
our
servicemen
and
women
that
died
in
Vietnam.
We
honor
and
remember
also
all
those
men
and
women
who
have
lost
their
lives,
safeguarding
our
freedoms
and
assuring
peace
throughout
the
world,
as
we
honor
these
brave
soldiers
who
gave
their
life
for
our
country
in
this
community.
We
pledge
never
to
forget,
and
we
promise
to
do
all
in
our
power
to
promote
peace
throughout
the
world.
B
We
are
mindful
today,
Lord
of
all
those
men
and
women
serving
here
in
our
country
and
around
the
world
in
harm's
way.
We
ask
you
Lord
to
watch
over
them,
protect
them
and
bring
them
safely
home,
as
we
gather
today.
Let
our
prayer
be
one
of
peace
for
our
world,
our
country,
our
community
and
our
homes
and,
above
all,
for
peace
in
our
hearts.
We
ask
this
in
God's,
name,
amen,.
A
A
A
A
Indeed,
from
the
very
first
moment,
this
stone
was
unveiled
on
Sunday
morning,
the
13th
of
September
1981,
South
Boston,
embraced
this
part
as
a
hallowed
ground
and
on
that
money,
when
we
first
matched
so
proudly
into
this
park.
But
people
far
beyond
East
Broadway
saw
in
the
gracious
sunlight
of
that
moment
was
the
deepest
expression
of
our
love,
a
devotion,
loyalty
pride.
A
All
that
we
had
tried
to
do
everything
this
moment
is
about
can
be
summed
up
in
a
single
word.
Remember.
It
is
both
humbling
in
wonderful
to
think
that
we
have
kept
the
memory
of
friends
alive
in
our
hearts
longer
than
they
were
with
us.
In
this
way
they
have
truly
become
immortal.
Then
we
have
kept
the
faith
in
that
faith.
That's
helped
to
nurture
us,
the
kids,
who
were
lucky
enough
to
have
made
it
home
when
I
looked
at
across
the
full
generation
of
remembrance.
A
All
the
sundays
we've
gathered
here
to
give
life
truth
to
those
words
chi
up
across
the
base
of
that
stone
to
provide
that
their
deaths,
to
prove
that
their
deaths
were
not
in
vain
I
instruct.
By
what
this
memorial
has
meant
to
us,
if
South
Boston,
if
the
South
Boston
Vietnam
Memorial,
has
become
a
touchstone
for
this
community,
it
has
also
been
an
anchor
to
the
lives
of
those
of
us
who
never
fail
to
return.
It
is
provide
solace,
grounded
us
in
the
love
of
friends
and
connecting
us
in
ways.
A
I
could
never
had
dreamt
38
years
ago
through
the
simple
act
of
remembering
we
are
drawn
so
many
others
to
the
sacred
circle
formed
lasting
friendships
with
people
who
saw
the
reflection
of
their
youth,
their
own
neighborhood
in
their
own
service
than
what
we
created
here
when
two
hundred
fiat
Nam
veterans
dressed
in
suits
wearing
red
carnations,
marched
up
East
Broadway.
It
was
viewed
as
a
rather
strange
and
bold
gesture
38
years
ago,
to
say
the
least.
That
was
not
the
stereotype
of
the
Vietnam
veteran.
A
A
Where
they
were
us
today
in
the
reflection
of
that
song,
we
see
ourselves
older,
grayer,
hopefully
a
little
wiser,
but
we
also
see
them
smiling
back
for
every
young
forever.
As
we
remember
them
all
memorials
tend
to
burnish
with
time
memories
can
grow
thin
as
a
loved
ones
who
cherish
them
pass
on
what
we
could
not
imagine
38
years
ago.
Perhaps
what
we
did
not
imagine
38
years
ago
is
that
our
memorial
would
become
more
relevant
with
each
passing
year.
A
Thanks
to
all
of
you
who
are
here
here
today
who
cared
enough
to
remember
on
behalf
of
the
South
Boston
Vietnam,
Memorial,
Committee
and,
most
importantly,
on
behalf
of
the
subparts
of
Vietnam
veterans.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
keeping
a
very
special
faith
for
joining
us
today,
but
continuing
your
standing
by
the
families
for
whom
we
mourn
with
and
celebrate
for
solemn
as
this
loan
is.
It
is
also
the
most
certainly
a
celebration
of
25
Nova
lights,
25,
sons,
brothers
and
Friends,
and
always
remembering
we
will
always
be
celebrating
than
memory.
A
D
A
He
graduated
from
University
of
Massachusetts
in
1976
and
was
commissioned
a
second
lieutenant
in
the
United
States
Marine
Corps
general
wood
Kelley
certainly
has
had
a
distinguished
distinguished
career
in
2012,
having
been
nominated
by
the
President
and
confirmed
by
the
US
Senate
for
the
promotion
to
general.
He
took
command
of
the
United
States
Southern
Command
in
Miami
it
was
general
Kelley
retired
in
January
of
2016
on
January
20th
2017,
having
been
previously
confirmed
by
the
US
Senate,
but
a
decision
he
assumed
duties.
A
As
a
secretary,
the
Department
of
Homeland
Security
on
July
31st
2017
secretary
Kelly,
was
asked
by
the
President
to
do
some.
The
duties
of
the
White
House
chief
of
staff,
a
position
he
tell
he
held
until
January
2019
long
before
general
Kelley
heard
the
words
Semper
Fidelis
before
he
stepped
on
the
yellow
footprints
on
Parris
Island.
He
was
lucky
enough
to
grow
up
in
the
city.
Boston
neighborhood
called
Oak
Square
in
Brighton,
with
the
core
values
of
family
faith,
loyalty
and
pride
were
instilled
at
a
very
young
age
in
lasts
a
lifetime.
A
Particularly
those
Marines
that
had
gone
on
to
achieve
that,
the
title
general
we
take
great
pride
knowing
that
general
Kelly
has
joined
at
this
distinguished
group
of
retired
Marine,
general
general
px,
Kelly,
general
johor,
General,
Jackson,
general
butch,
Neil
in
in
15
days,
general
Johnson,
as
a
former
Marine
corporal
I,
take
pride.
Knowing
that
I
can
call
all
the
Boston
generals
a
friend
but
with
Kelly.
We
share
something
special.
We
both
graduated
from
Parris
Island,
ladies
and
gentlemen
I
guess,
take
a
general
john
F,
Kelly,
United,
States,
Marine,
Corps
retired.
E
Thank
you
very
much.
Just
very
briefly.
You
know
I'm
from
Boston
my
my
my
dad
grew
up
in
Boston
Irish
guy
is
the
last
name
would
indicate
my
mother
Italian
petaline
Oh
from
East
Boston
best
deal.
The
best
deal
in
life
is,
if
you
have
an
Italian
mother,
I
will
tell
you
that
many
of
you
know
that,
because,
with
all
due
respect
to
the
Irish
side,
they
don't
cook
nearly
as
well
anyways
a
couple
of
quick
stories,
and
it's
all
about
this
gentleman.
E
E
He
was
drafted
to
go
into
World
War
two,
the
first
peacetime
draft
our
country
had,
and
he
was
stationed,
believe
it
or
not
after
boot,
camp
in
Camp,
Edwards
Massachusetts,
and
so
he
did
this
year
and
then
he
was
extended
for
a
year
which
didn't
you
know,
please
him.
This
is
before
the
war
now
and
he,
as
he
told,
told
the
story
to
me
many
many
times
he
came
home
to
to
Brighton
over
the
weekend.
E
One
weekend
then
get
on
the
train
get
on
the
bus
going
back
to
two
other
barracks
and
somewhere
in
there
the
Japanese
bombed
Pearl
Harbor.
So
he
gets
to
the
barracks
and
of
course
all
the
men
are
listening
to
the
coverage
of
the
Pearl
Harbor
attack
at
all,
and
he
was
outraged
like
every
American
was
at
a
time
probably
still
are,
but
in
any
event
he
then
goes
to
his
first
sergeant,
and
he
said
you
know.
This
is
not
all
terrible
and
everything,
but
this
isn't
getting
in
the
way
of
my
discharge.
E
E
Uncle
Leo
had
a
deferment,
Uncle
Leo
was
with
the
railroad
and
had
a
deferment
until
1943,
and
he
used
to
write
my
father,
who
was
in
Guadalcanal
and
places
like
that
fighting
and
giving
him
a
hard
time
about
how
he
was
making.
You
know
four
hundred
bucks
a
month
and
my
father
was
making
you
know
25
bucks
a
month
and
then
he
gets.
His
draft
notice
goes
to
the
same
place
here
in
the
city
that
I
took
my
brad
physical
in
1970.
E
You
know
we're
about
to
invade
Europe
Normandy
hadn't
happened
yet
were
about
to
invade
Europe.
It's
gonna
be
really
bad.
So
why
don't
you
join
the
Marines?
Now
somehow
my
Uncle
Leo
had
missed.
You
know
Guadalcanal
Tarawa,
that
kind
of
thing,
so
he
did
join
with
a
guy
by
name
of
Bob
Bob
Crane
farmer,
treasurer.
They
were
best
friends
for
life
and
they
served
together
on
Iwo
Jima
and
his
baby
brother
was
in
the
United
States
Navy
on
destroyer
of
duty
out
of
the
city.
E
The
point
of
all
of
that
is
when
I
grew
up
in
this
great
city,
and
it
is
the
greatest
city
when
I
grew
up
in
this
great
city.
Every
man
in
my
life
was
a
veteran
everybody
of
either
some
World
War
one,
but
mostly
World
War,
two
and
a
few
from
Korea.
Every
man
in
my
life
was
a
veteran
and
every
time
they
get
together,
which
was
frequent,
they're
all
working
men
every
time
they
got
together,
they
talked
about
the
war,
they
talked
about
their
buddies
in
the
in
the
times
they
had.
E
E
E
E
They
were
no
different,
and
is
that
often
times
tell
people
I
never
met
people
like
these
people
never
but
I
know
exactly
who
they
are
and
I
know
them
very,
very
well,
because
I
serve
my
entire
life
with
people
like
that
selfless
devotion
to
duty
protect
the
country,
I,
don't
I'm,
not
I,
don't
want
to
get
ahead
of
my
if
my
unit
doesn't
get
a
hit.
I
don't
want
to
get
ahead
if
I.
If
the
mission
is
not
accomplished,
they
get
paid
nothing,
they
serve
constantly
they're.
E
In
my
conversations
with
their
families,
it
was
always
the
same
question.
Was
it
worth
it
is?
Is
there
sacrifice
in
vain
that
the
words
are
on
the
memorial
and
the
dozens
and
dozens
and
dozens
of
both
of
us
funerals
I,
went
to
it
Arlington
Cemetery?
In
other
places,
it
was
always
the
same
question:
did
they
die
in
vain?
E
Was
it
worth
it
and
I
had
an
opportunity
to
answer
that
question
in
my
mind
that
my
son
Jim,
it's
the
same
answer
that
these
guys
would
give
if
they,
if
they
could
in
the
same
answer,
I
believe
a
million
Americans
would
give
if
they
had
survived.
It
is
serve
my
country
and
the
cloth
of
my
country,
the
uniform
of
my
country.
E
A
A
F
Thank
you
very
much
Tommy
and
to
Governor
Baker,
congressman
Lynch
throughout
keynote
speakers,
general
Kelly,
all
the
elected
officials
out
of
here
state,
senator
Nick,
Collins,
state,
representative,
David,
Beale
city
council,
michael
clarity
and
flynn,
nature,
sabe,
George,
father
Casey,
our
Veterans
Commission
in
the
City
of
Boston,
Rob,
Santiago,
Koala
veterans,
want
to
say
thank
you,
Vietnam
veterans
and
all
of
our
brother
veterans
that
are
here
with
us
today
to
us
active
service,
men
and
women
to
our
gold,
star
families
and
all
the
community
members
joining
us
today.
Thank
you
for
being
here
today.
F
We
are
proud
to
gather
here
for
the
30th
anniversary
of
the
South
Boston
Vietnam
Memorial
in
this
beautiful
Medal
of
Honor
Park.
This
memorial,
as
you
heard,
was
sounded
by
Tommy,
and
his
friends
were
here
today
to
pay
respects
to
the
friends
they
lost
in
Vietnam
since
then
has
become
a
place
of
healing
reflection
and
gratitude
to
so
many
people
in
this
community
in
the
entire
city
of
Boston.
F
It's
a
tremendous
loss
to
this
community
that
the
community
still
feels
today
and
this
morning
we
continue
to
stand
and
are
of
the
commitment
to
our
city,
our
country
and
our
freedoms.
It's
important
to
state.
As
a
city,
we
are
committed
to
the
legacy
of
service
that
runs
through
all
of
our
neighborhoods
right
now
we
are
rededicating
our
hero
squares,
all
across
the
city
of
Austin.
Hero
squares
are
founded
the
intersections
of
streets
that
many
of
us
want
down
every
single
day.
F
Each
square
represents
a
person,
a
resident,
a
hero
led
by
our
veteran
service
commission.
We
are
upgrading
our
hero,
Swift
signs
with
the
biographical
information
on
our
fallen
heroes.
So
it's
just
not
a
name
on
the
top
of
a
signpost.
It's
gonna
tell
you
a
story
about
that
person
on
the
top
of
a
signpost.
It's
one
special
way
that
we
can
continue
to
keep
their
legacy
alive
for
years
to
come,
no
matter
how,
many
years
ago
they
served
our
country.
F
We
must
always
remember
that,
even
in
our
busy
lives,
we
always
have
a
moment
to
stop
and
reflect
on
what
it
means
to
be
free
and
that
it
costs
the
cost
it
took
to
make
that
freedom
possible.
That's
what
you
think
about
when
you
come
to
this
memorial,
it's
a
humbling
and
moving
experience
as
Americans.
We
are
united
by
our
gratitude
for
our
fallen
heroes,
the
men
and
women
who
continue
to
serve
our
country.
At
this
very
moment.
F
A
A
G
That
was
a
that
was
a
Monday
Night,
Football,
sermon
father
that
was
like
if
they
want
some
are
on
a
holy
cow.
But
but
hardly
enough
part
of
my
remarks
this
morning.
You
really
wouldn't
what
father
touched
on
this
morning.
Father
was
talking
about
people
who
were
lost,
obviously
referring
to
the
prodigal
son,
but
he
also
said
we.
G
Should
observe
how
extensively
our
country
seeks
to
return
our
sons
who
are
missing
in
action
so
last
week,
I
had
an
opportunity
to
spend
a
couple
of
days
with
about
2500
Marines
in
n'doul
in
Australia
and
on
the
way
back.
We
we
stopped
at
the
DPA,
a
which
is
the
defence
Pio
wmia
accounting
agency
and
what
their
responsibility
is
and
I've
spoken
about
this
before
at
this
event,
is
their
sole
responsibility
on
your
behalf.
They
are
paid
by
the
taxpayers.
G
If
you
pay
them
is
to
recover
the
remains
of
the
87,000
sons
and
daughters
of
this
country
who
perished
in
the
Second
World
War,
the
5,000
or
so
that
are
still
remaining
on
North
Korean
soil
who
perished
in
the
Korean
War
and
about
a
thousand
Americans
who
remain
in
in
Vietnam
and
in
Laos
as
a
result
of
the
Vietnam
War,
and
it
just
so
happened.
I
I
was
there
at
a
very
propitious
moment.
G
G
They
have
been
identified
now
and
are
being
identified
by
their
breast.
It's
called
the
clavicle
analysis.
They
can
actually
identify.
They
say
it's
as
good
as
a
as
a
thumbprint,
and
so
each
and
every
one
of
those
40
will
be
returned
to
their
home
communities
and
to
their
families
over
the
next
several
months.
We
also
received
because
of
the
work
that
has
been
done
with
Korea
over
the
last
last
year
of
Seoul,
we
received
50
boxes
of
remains
from
in
and
around
the
Chosun
reservoir.
G
Those
were
recently
received
at
Hickam
Field
as
well
and
in
those
what
we
thought
were
the
remains
of
50
Americans
upon
analysis.
There
were
the
remains
of
250
individuals,
80
of
those
turned
out
to
be
Korean
combatants,
about
170
170
of
US,
Marines
and
and
an
army
from
the
east
and
west
ends
of
the
Chosun
reservoir,
and
this
year
they
set
a
record
in
terms
of
recovery
from
Vietnam
208
of
our
sons
of
the
colleagues
of
the
men
standing
here
at
the
rail.
We
were
also
identified
and
are
being
returned
to
their
families.
G
G
He
told
me
of
of
the
whole
process
and
it
was
a
Vietnam
veteran.
He
had
died
six
months
before
his
daughter
was
born,
his
wife
and
his
daughter.
His
wife
was
now
in
her
80s
and
his
daughter,
who
was
now
early
50s,
asked
to
to
come
to
hickam,
and
the
DPA
actually
gives
the
opportunity
to
the
family
to
the
review
that
remains
to
review
the
remains
and
this
family,
the
mother
and
the
daughter
after
that
that
option.
G
Now
they
have
grief
counselors
there
and
it's
a
as
you
could
imagine
it's
a
traumatic
experience,
a
lot
of
these
families
and
with
this
one
mother
and
her
daughter
before
they
they
have
a
room
set
up.
It's
very
respectful,
dignified
as
they
were
bringing
in
the
mother
and
the
daughter
to
view
the
remains
of
their
husband
and
father,
the
daughter,
paused
and
she
said
to
Admiral
kraits
I'm,
not
sure
I
can
do
this.
An
advocate
said
it's
it's
entirely
understandable.
It's
entirely
under
the
circumstances.
It's
entirely
understandable.
G
You
don't
have
to
do
this
and
the
daughter
said:
no,
you
don't
understand
general
I'm,
52
years
old
and
I'm
about
to
meet
my
father
for
the
first
time
she
said.
That's
what
gives
me
hesitation
that
statement
to
me
hit
me
in
the
heart
and
it
it
epitomizes
what
gold
star
families
have
given
to
this
country.
G
A
C
C
C
D
C
C
And
he
said,
I
really
hope
you
and
all
your
buddies
come
home
safe.
But
thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
for
your
service
to
our
country
and
then
most
recently
and
went
out
to
greet
it's
the
worst
part
of
this
job.
I
went
out
degree
a
young
man
who
came
home
for
the
last
time
at
Westover,
Air,
Force,
Base,
green
beret,
was
killed
in
Afghanistan
I
met
his
family.
The
hangar,
as
we
left
in
western
mass
the
streets,
were
lined
deep
from
the
base.
C
A
A
A
A
A
Also
I
want
to
take
the
opportunity
to
thank
a
de
Janerio
and
David
Lin
it
for
their
kind
donation.
As
you
can
see,
we
have
gone
from
having
to
cut
raking
in
mow
the
grass,
and
now
we
vacuum
clean
it,
but
but
thanks
thanks
to
so
many
people,
we've
been
able
to
make
this
a
whole
lot
a
whole
lot
easier
for
our
ground
crew
under
the
leadership
of
Bob
Lana
hand
that
are
getting
older,
but
now
I
think
we
have
a
great
opportunity
to
maintain
this
and
keep
it
beautiful
as
it
should
be.
A
And
it
and,
lastly,
to
Commissioner
Ryan
woods
from
the
parks
department
who
once
again
was
so
so
helpful
and
making
today
happen.
If
you
forget
my
death,
then
I
died
in
vain.
These
words
are
not
speak
about
bravery
or
Valor,
duty
or
honor,
and
in
fact
they
did
not
speak
to
the
dead
or
about
them.
They
speak
to
watch
the
living,
for
it
is
us
who
have
been
charged
with
the
awesome
responsibility
of
given
me
and
yes,
even
life,
for
the
ultimate
sacrifice
they
made
on
our
behalf.
A
If
we,
the
family,
the
friends
and
the
veterans
they
left
behind,
do
not
take
the
time
I'll
make
the
commitment
to
remember.
Then,
if
that
CD
will
have
been
in
vain,
we
must
continue
to
remember
their
service.
They
sacrifice
they
never
forget,
and
once
again,
thank
you
all
for
being
here.
38
years
incoming.