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From YouTube: 39th Anniversary of South Boston Vietnam Memorial
Description
For the last 39 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, Ret. General Stanley McChrystal, Congressman Steven Lynch, South Boston native and Vietnam veteran Tom Lyons, and other Boston veterans, for the 39th 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
Oh
say:
can
you
see
by
the
dawn's
early
light?
Was
so
proudly
we
hail
at
the
twilight's
gleaming
who's
brought
stripes
and
bright
stars
through
the
perilous
fight
over
ramparts.
We
watched
were
so
gallantly
streaming
and
the
rockets
red
glare
the
bombs
bursting
in
gave
proof
to
the
night
that
a
flag
was
still
there.
B
A
C
C
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.
C
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
lord
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
and
our
community,
in
our
homes
and,
above
all,
for
peace
in
our
hearts.
A
A
A
What
we
did
on
that
day
wasn't
happening,
anyplace
else.
In
america
we
were
the
first
to
say
to
the
brothers
and
sisters
we
lost
in
vietnam,
that
your
sacrifice
would
never
be
forgotten
in
your
death
will
never
be
in
vain
and
in
fact,
the
devotion
we
showed
and
the
tribute
we
paid
our
friends
helped
to
trigger
the
creation
of
the
long
overdue
memorials
to
our
neighbors,
who
served
fought
and
died
in
korea
and
world
war
ii.
A
We
were
young
men
when
we
gathered
here.
For
the
first
time
our
children
were
still
children
in
the
passage
of
time,
we've
watched
them,
grow
old,
have
children
of
their
own
and,
in
some
cases,
go
off
to
war.
Like
my
son
todd,
we
are
a
good
deal
older.
Now,
we've
lost
too
many
friends
who
made
that
first
trek
up
east
broadway
with
us.
A
A
I
want
very
much
to
believe
that
the
tradition
of
remembrance
we
established
through
the
years
is
one
of
those
shiny
truths
that
makes
our
boston
a
special
place.
This
year,
I
am
in
miami
rock.
My
remarks
were
to
plea
I
directed
not
to
all
those
familiar
faces
who
have
gathered
here
for
39
years,
but
to
all
the
new
faces
who
who
are
as
young
as
we
were
when
we
came
here
for
the
first
time
someday,
you
will
inherit
this
sacred
community
tradition.
A
The
very
best
of
what
south
boston
is
about
the
essence
of
our
heart
and
soul,
cherish
it
as
as
we
have
tried
to
keep
the
faith
with
those
ten
words
at
the
bottom
of
our
stone.
If
you
forget
my
death,
then
I
died
in
vain,
because
those
words
do
not
speak
to
what
this
community
once
was.
They
speak
to
who
we
are,
and
god
willing
will
always
be.
A
I
am
honored
to
introduce
our
guest
of
honor
this
morning,
general
stanley,
a
crystal
united
states,
army,
retired,
the
son
and
grandson
of
army
officers,
general
mcchrystal
graduated
from
west
point
in
1976
as
an
infantry
officer,
completed
ranger
training
in
other
special
forces
training
over
the
course
of
his
career.
He
has.
A
In
june,
2009
general
mcchrystal
received
a
fourth
star
and
assumed
command
of
all
international
forces
in
afghanistan,
a
transformative
leader
with
a
remarkable
record
of
achievement,
general
stanley,
a
mcchrystal,
was
called
one
of
america's
greatest
warriors
by
secretary
of
defense,
robert
gates.
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
please
welcome
general
stanley,
a
mcquest.
D
D
D
D
18
months
after
his
second
tour
ended
now
a
young
brigadier
general,
the
man
lost
mary
suddenly
to
an
unexpected
illness
and
at
age
45
he
lost.
The
love
of
his
life
was
left
with
six
children
and
the
pressures
of
a
career
he
struggled
and
by
1974
he'd
almost
lost
his
battle
with
alcohol
and
with
life.
D
D
D
D
So
with
two
helicopters,
we
flew
around
from
small
base
to
small
base,
many
of
them
very,
very
remote,
and
one
of
the
bases
we
landed
late
into
the
evening
had
about
a
platoon
of
u.s
army
forces
and
a
slightly
smaller
group
of
afghan
forces.
It
looked
like
a
beaujesque
fort
with
a
big
mud
wall
around
it
and
bunkers
to
defend
it,
and
it
was
a
cold
night.
D
D
D
D
A
A
A
I
would
like
to
now
introduce
our
governor
charlie
baker,
who
has
been
here
every
year
since
he's
been
governor.
I
love
saying
that,
because
he's
the
only
governor
that
has
ever
taken
the
time
to
be
with
us
in
september
and
once
again
he's
here
with
us
today
and
because
of
governor
baker's
commitment
in
wanting
to
do
something
to
vietnam
veterans,
all
of
the
vietnam
veterans
today
will
receive
a
book
a
time
to
honor,
which
celebrates
the
fifth
commemoration
of
the
ending
of
the
vietnam
war.
A
But,
what's
really
special
to
me,
is
in
the
book
there's
a
picture
of
the
back
of
our
memorial
that
has
all
five
insignias
of
our
service,
but
also
it
has
to
all
the
men
and
women
who
served
during
the
vietnam
war
in
four
inch.
Letters
welcome
home
so
governor
on
behalf
of
the
vietnam
veterans
here
today.
Thank
you
for
this.
E
E
E
E
E
The
biggest
lesson
separate
the
war
from
the
warrior,
and
I
happen
to
believe.
Thankfully,
that
is
one
lesson
this
country
has
learned
so
general
when
you
talk
about
the
issues
associated
with
what
people
think
or
don't
think
about
afghanistan
be
very
hard-pressed
to
find
a
lot
of
people
in
this
country
who
don't
honor
and
thank
the
folks
who
put
the
uniform
on
to
serve.
E
A
It's
my
pleasure
now
to
introduce
our
mayor
marty
walsh,
as
the
mayor
makes
his
way
up
here.
I
just
want
to
let
folks
know
how
appreciative
we
are
of
what
he
has
been
able
to
do
not
only
helping
us
here
at
our
memorial
but
across
the
city
when
it
comes
to
our
veterans.
So,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
please
welcome
marty
walsh.
F
Thank
you
very
much
tom,
and
I
want
to
thank
tom
for
for
the
incredible
work
he
does
to
everyone
here
today
to
congressman
lynch
and
your
support
and
what
you
do
every
day,
as
well,
in
the
united
states
congress
to
governor
baker
to
general
mcchrystal,
who
is
a
friend
and
to
his
wife
that
joined
us
today.
I
want
to
give
a
special
thanks,
general
crystal
very
in
the
very
beginning
of
the
covet
crisis
we
reached
out
to
general
mcchrystal
and
his
team,
and
he
kept
he.
F
F
To
all
the
elected
officials,
council,
baker,
council
flynn,
council,
flaherty
district
attorney,
rawlings
representative,
beal,
senator
collins,
mayor
flynn,
I
know
the
ambassador,
but
mayor
flynn.
Thank
you
very
much,
general
dunford,
thank
you
as
well
and
and
to
all
the
service,
men
and
women
service,
men
and
women
that
are
here
today.
You
know
active
and
retired.
Thank
you
so
much.
You
know
this
is
clearly
a
very
emotional
morning.
I
think
it's
emotional
for
a
lot
of
reasons.
F
As
all
of
you
have
today,
and
I
think
that
in
the
governor's
rematch
in
all
of
what's
going
on
in
society,
we
lose
sight
of
that
whether
we
lose
sight
of
it
for
a
moment-
or
we
sat
here
for
a
while
and
it's
important
that
we
don't
today
we're
here
to
honor
the
memory
of
the
service
of
25
brave
men
from
the
south
boston
neighborhood.
I
was
talking
to
the
general
the
other
day.
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
The
next
conversation
will
take
place
at
franklin
park
on
october
10th,
and
we
want
you
to
help
us
spread
the
word
before
I
close.
I
want
to
mention
that
this
friday
september
18th
is
national
mia
recognition
day
it's
a
time
to
honor
and
recognize
our
heroes,
who
are
prisoners
of
war
and
who
are
still
missing
in
action
veterans
services
is
because
of
the
times
is
hosting
a
virtual
recognition
service.
On
that
day,
at
noon,
you
can
tune
in
at
boston,
vets,
facebook.
F
F
A
Our
next
speaker
is
congressman
stephen
lynch
congressman
lynch
has
been
here
as
a
representative
for
the
community,
a
senator
from
the
community
and
now
the
congressman
from
the
community,
but
like
senator
lynch,
we're
fortunate
fortunate
to
have
representatives
who
continue
to
carry
on
to
take
care
of
this
community,
the
way
other
senators
and
representatives
have
over
the
years.
So
I
want
to
thank
senator
collins,
representative
beal
counselors
flaherty
flynn.
G
Thank
you,
tom
lyons,
for
all.
You
do
forever
and
clergy
father
casey.
Thank
you
for
your
blessing
and
for
the
beautiful
mass
this
morning,
governor
baker,
mayor
walsh,
two
wonderful
supporters
of
our
veterans,
the
veterans
in
south
boston
and
across
the
commonwealth
in
the
country,
couldn't
have
two
better
advocates
on
their
behalf.
G
Two
two
men
who
really
every
single
day,
regardless
of
whether
that
veteran
is
a
world
war
ii,
veteran
or
or
a
veteran
who
has
come
home
last
week
from
afghanistan,
governor
baker
and
mayor
walsh
have
been
right
there
every
step
of
the
way.
So
we
really
appreciate
their
leadership
and
their
service.
G
I
also
want
to
thank
them
for
the
work
that
they
did
up
at
marion
manor.
You
know
in
this
pandemic
we've
relied
very
heavily
on
on
mayor
walsh
and
with
marty
martinez,
his
health
director
sending
up
extra
staff,
as
as
staff
got
sick
up
at
marion
manor.
You
know
they
they
were
understaffed
and
the
mayor
saw
to
that
and
then
with
the
covid
testing.
G
I
think
three
times
I
requested
at
least
three
times
I
requested
from
governor
baker
to
have
testing
done
of
the
whole
house
up
there
at
marion,
manor
and
you've
been
great,
and
I
really
appreciate
the
work
of
the
massachusetts
national
guy
general
keith,
going
up
there
and
testing
all
the
residents
and
all
the
staff
up
there
on
several
occasions.
So
we
are
thankful
for
your
leadership
in
that
regard
as
well.
G
My
colleagues
in
government,
senator
collins,
representative,
beal
councillors,
flaherty
and
eddie
flynn,
clerk
donovan
and
our
suffolk
county
d.a,
rachel
rollins.
Thank
you
for
your
attendance
here
today.
I
also
want
to
call
out
general
joe
dunford
and
his
wife
alan,
who
are
here
in
the
back.
There.
H
G
Is,
as
you
know,
general
joe
dunford
also
was
commanding
isaf
commander
in
afghanistan.
He
he
hosted
me
there
several
times,
as
did
general
mcchrystal.
Thank
you
both
for
your
hospitality
and
your
your
k,
your
care
and
protection.
While
I
was
there
just
two
amazing
leaders
on
on
our
behalf
and
very
deserving
of
of
our
recognition
here
today.
G
I
also
want
to
thank
the
mass
national
guard,
honor
guard
and
and
also
the
the
mass
national
guard
and
the
united
states
marine
corps,
honor
guides
on
the
boston,
police
guard
and
greater
boston,
firefighters
pipes
and
drums
featuring,
I
might
add,
michael
casper,
a
local
local
musician
and
my
brother-in-law,
kevin
conroy,
the
united
states
marine
corps
also
there
in
the
back.
Thank
thank
them
for
their
service
as
well.
G
G
Thank
you
for
honoring
us
with
your
presence.
As
I
said,
I
I
had
an
opportunity
to
spend
some
time
in
afghanistan
with
general
mcchrystal
in
one
of
my
visits
we
went
down
to
the
he
put
me
with
the
17
striker
brigade.
We
went
down
from
kandahar
down
to
the
border
with
pakistan.
He
gave
me
a
one
of
these
afghan
hats
to
wear,
but
all
I
could
think
of
was
mike
dukakis
and
I
decided
not
to
wear
that.
G
G
G
G
G
G
A
I
South
boston
neighbors,
as
tom
mentioned
on
behalf
of
the
south
boston
elected
officials,
congressman
lynch
council
of
flaherty,
senator
collins,
representative,
beal,
councillor,
frank
baker,
cleric
michael
donovan,
I'm
honored
to
welcome
you
to
medal
of
honor
park.
But
before
I
do
that,
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
parks
department
as
well,
for
the
incredible
work
that
they
did
on
the
park,
but
also
the
committee
that
does
a
tremendous
job
throughout
the
year.
I
I
We
return
to
tell
you
that
we
did
not
forget
and
we
will
never
forget
you.
You
represented
the
best
of
us.
You
pay
the
supreme
sacrifice
for
our
nation
and
you
served
as
an
example
for
generations
of
south
boston,
servicemen
and
women
who
came
after
you
to
the
south
boston,
vietnam
veterans,
who
are
here
today.
I
Thank
you
for
your
heroic
service
and
for
your
sacrifice.
You
came
home
from
war,
but
you
never
left
serving
our
community
or
our
country.
You
protected
us
on
the
fire
department
on
the
police
department,
your
trades
people,
veterans
advocates
and
youth
sports
coaches,
but
you
also
resolved
never
to
forget
your
fallen
brothers.
I
You
built
this
memorial
as
the
first
memorial
to
vietnam
veterans
in
the
nation.
You
led
the
way
and
reminded
all
of
us
to
never
forget
them
because
of
your
reference.
We
honor
and
remember
them
today.
We
also
honor
their
families
for
their
many
sacrifices
as
well.
May
god
bless
their
memory,
and
may
god
bless
the
united
states
of
america?
Thank
you.
A
A
A
A
A
Coppo
calhoun's
platoon,
while
defending
an
outpost
in
tuition
province,
suddenly
came
under
heavy
volume
of
mortar
and
rocket
fire,
followed
by
an
aggressive
assault
by
a
numerical
superior
vietcong
force.
The
enemy
quickly
seized
the
northern
wall
of
the
compound.
As
the
marines
and
popular
force
soldiers
moved
to
the
sandbag
southern
world.
A
A
His
heroic
and
timely
action
inspired
all
who
observed
him
and
were
instrumental
in
repelling
the
enemy
force
by
his
conspicuous
valor
strong
initiative
and
complete
dedication
to
duty.
Corporal
calhoun
upheld
the
highest
traditions
of
the
united
states
marine
corps
in
the
united
states
naval
service.
He
gallantly
gave
his
life
for
his
country.
H
H
H
H
A
As
we
conclude
the
39th
anniversary,
I
want
to
make
an
announcement,
as
we
start
thinking
about
our
40th
anniversary
next
year.
I
want
to
thank
the
governor
and
the
mayor
through
their
efforts
once
again.
For
the
fourth
time,
the
congressional
medal
of
honor
society
has
selected
boston
for
its
convention
and
it'll,
be
during
the
weekend
of
our
40th
anniversary.
So
thank
you
to
the
governor
and
the
mayor
who
helped
support
the
effort
to
bring
the
society
back
again.
Once
again,
if
you
forget
my
death,
then
I
died
in
vain.
A
A
If
we,
the
family,
the
veterans,
the
friends
the
community
they
left
behind,
do
not
take
the
time
or
make
the
commitment
to
remember,
then
their
debts
indeed,
will
have
been
in
vain.
We
must
remember
this.
We
must
remember
their
sacrifice
and
never
forget.
Thank
you.
Once
again,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
for
being
here
today,
that
concludes
our
service.