►
Description
The Cupertino Middle School Band and Choir and the Kennedy Middle School Dynamics perform as they welcome the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall to Cupertino's Memorial Park. The Wall is an 80 percent scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. Featured speakers include Council member Orrin Mahoney and Lt. Dennis Whittaker, Ret. Recorded November 10, 2011.
A
A
We're
very
fortunate
in
Cupertino
to
have
such
a
wonderful
permanent
monument
recognizing
those
who
have
served
our
community
to
my
left
is
a
monument
honoring
Matt,
Matthew
axelsson
and
those
countless
others
who
have
served
this
community
in
this
nation.
I
know
as
parents
are
here
this
afternoon,
Don
and
Corky.
Thank
you
for
coming.
A
But
this
year
is
a
little
special
because
we
have
also
besides
this
permanent
monument,
we
have
the
the
wall
for
those
who
have
been
to
Washington
DC.
You
can
appreciate
that
this
is
almost
actual
size,
I
think
not
quite,
but
the
wall
represents
a
war
that
some
of
us
remember,
and
some
of
us
knew
people
who
went
and
for
those
who
are
still
in
school.
D
A
E
E
Many
months
ago,
when
we
first
heard
that
the
replica
of
the
Vietnam
Memorial
Wall
was
coming
to
Cupertino,
I
I
I
did
not
envision
this
at
all.
I
envisioned
some
small
model
that
we're
gonna
show
over
in
the
community
hall,
or
something
like
that
so
coming
out
here
today,
seeing
this
for
the
first
time.
It
truly
is
amazing.
Now
that
doesn't
mean
in
anybody
that
has
the
opportunity
to
go
back
to
Washington,
DC
and
and
see
the
real
one
should
pass
that
up.
E
It's
it's
a
special
place
and
the
way
that
you
walk
down
below
ground
to
get
to
it
has
has
a
very
special
feel
so
I
encourage
anybody
to
to
go
and
see
the
original.
But
if
you
do
not
have
that
opportunity,
certainly
this
is
very
close
to
it
or
as
close
as
we're
gonna
get
here
in
Cupertino
I.
Think
it's
important
to
understand
this.
How
the
city
of
Cupertino
brought
both
this
memorial
and
a
wall
here
and
before
sandy
has
a
fit
I,
don't
mean
the
city
of
Cupertino
with
a
capital.
E
C
I,
don't
mean
the
government
of
Cupertino.
Although
we
played
a
role
in
in
this,
it
really
is
the
city,
the
citizens
of
Cupertino,
the
people
that
live
here,
work
here
or
have
an
affinity
for
Cupertino
that
made
this
all
happen.
As
you
know,
this,
the
memorial
that
we're
standing
in
here
and
the
the
memorial
wall
is
due
to
the
Cupertino
Veterans,
Memorial
Association
and
all
the
hard
work
of
those
people
to
fundraise
and
solicit
support
throughout
the
community
and
throughout
the
area
is
really
what
made
all
this
happened.
E
It
is
really
important
to
remember,
if
you
don't
remember
your
your
there,
you
can
repeat
your
mistakes.
Yes,
Rick
pointed
out,
we
made
a
mistake
when
the
veterans
of
Vietnam
came
home
and
I
think
we
learned
from
that
mistake.
So
by
remembering
them
we
won't
make
that
mistake
again
and
we're
not
making
that
mistake
now.
E
It
was
like
it
was
here
all
the
time,
underneath
the
hill
just
kind
of
waited
to
be
on
earth
and
the
Veterans
Memorial
in
Washington
DC
is
similar
to
that
it's
under
the
flat
ground.
It
was
like
it
was
waiting
there
to
be
unearthed
at
the
right
time
so
with
that
enjoy
the
rest
of
your
day,
but
especially
encourage
any
friends.
Relatives
I'll
be
bringing
my
grandson
by
to
come
by
and
experience
this
this
special
opportunity.
So
thank
you
all
for
being
here.
A
A
A
I
I
I
Thank
you
to
all
who
are
involved
in
today's
event,
for
letting
me
speak,
thank
you
also
for
whoever
wore
a
military
uniform,
whether
you
served
overseas
or
at
home,
I'm
speaking,
to
tell
you
why
I
think
the
Vietnam
Memorial
is
important
to
help
you
understand
where
my
thoughts
come
from.
Here's
my
story,
I'm
a
Vietnam
veteran
that
was
fortunate
to
come
home.
Like
many
I
know,
men
and
women
who
answered
the
country's
call,
who
did
not
make
it
home
their
names
are
listed
on
the
wall.
I
Every
death
is
a
tragedy,
but
just
to
give
you
some
perspective,
we
lost
over
1,800
soldiers
in
the
ten
years,
we're
fighting
in
Afghanistan.
We
lost
forty-three
hundred
plus
in
Iraq,
and
we
lost
58,000
200
plus
in
Vietnam
in
10
years,
I.
Remember
a
childhood
friend
from
first
grade
on
rich
Sullivan
who
died
in
the
early
part
of
the
war
and
I.
Remember
Greg
Ogawa,
who
was
with
me
as
I
shared
four
years
of
high
school
band.
With
him
he
was
a
sousaphone
player.
I
was
a
wannabe
trombone
player
and
I.
I
Remember
members
of
my
own
platoon,
plus
Lieutenant
John
gross
in
my
company,
who
died
on
an
incident
July,
27
1971
of
which
he'll
tell
you
more
about
it
later.
He
is
on
the
file
number
West
322
names
up
during
the
Vietnam
years
serving
in
the
military
was
not
a
choice
like
most
soldiers
once
I
completed
high
school
in
college,
I
was
eligible
for
the
draft
and
it
was
difficult
finding
work
due
to
the
possibility
of
being
drafted.
I
I
My
head
was
shaved
and
I
began
a
new
regimented
life
in
the
US
Army
I
completed
my
basic
training
and
advanced
infantry
training
at
Fort
Ord
and
in
September
of
1969
I
went
on
to
Officer
Candidate
School
at
Fort,
Benning,
followed
by
jump
school
and
Ranger
School
I
was
assigned
after
the
training
as
an
instructor
with
the
Rangers.
During
this
time,
I
met
my
future
wife
and
president.
I
Why
penny
and
I
knew
I
was
heading
for
Vietnam
and
I
also
knew
lieutenants
have
a
short
life
span
there
and
I
may
not
come
back
or
if
I
do
I
may
not
have
arms
and
legs.
This
made
it
difficult
to
make
a
commitment
to
her
I
actually
left
for
Vietnam
on
January
4th
1971,
but
as
an
officer
I
was
sent
to
the
Panama
Canal
Zone
for
special
training
to
become
familiar
with
jungle
training.
I
This
delayed
my
arrival
of
Vietnam
for
three
weeks
I
took
charge
of
my
platoon
in
early
February
1971,
where
I
was
assigned
to
the
Americal
division
located
in
the
northern
part
of
South
Vietnam
I
served
in
combat
until
the
end
of
July
and
became
a
generals
aide
in
August
of
71
I
returned
home
in
November
of
71.
As
I
said
earlier,
July
27
1971
was
an
important
date.
That
was
the
last
of
six
times
that
I
came
close
to
having
my
name
on
the
wall
with
the
Americal
division.
I
Officers
in
the
field
of
combat
normally
spend
four
months
out
in
the
badlands,
since
President
Nixon
was
shutting
down.
The
war
and
replacements
were
slowing
down.
I
was
out
there
for
nearly
six
months.
I
had
90
soldiers
under
me
in
my
platoon.
Through
that
time,
sometimes
we
were
22
in
numbers.
Sometimes
we
were
13.
I
There
were
always
a
turnover
due
to
12
months
have
already
served
vacation,
injury
or
reassignments
as
a
platoon.
We
spent
ten
days
to
two
weeks
time
out
in
the
jungle
day
and
night.
Our
job
was
to
locate
the
Viet
Cong
and
the
North
Vietnamese.
We
looked
out
for
each
other
to
survive
on
July
27
1971.
It
was
my
platoons
turn
to
lead
the
company
out
into
the
next
mission.
I
We
loaded
up
on
five
helicopters,
which
we
normally
did
for
transporting
us
out
on
our
way
to
the
landing
zones
as
a
lieutenant
I
was
on
the
first
helicopter
with
members
of
my
platoon
and
the
rest
of
my
platoon
were
in
the
remaining
four
helicopters
ready
to
lift
off
until
that
date,
I'd
never
lost
the
whole
soldier,
but
I
did
have
soldiers
who
were
injured
due
to
five
booby
traps.
None
of
them
were
killed
while
waiting
to
go.
I
My
company
commander
came
over
and
told
me
to
get
out
of
the
helicopter
as
I
received
my
new
rear
echelon
assignment
I
left
the
first
helicopter,
together
with
three
other
members
of
my
platoon
and
Lieutenant
John
Albert
gros,
stick
my
place
with
his
radio
man,
machine
gunner
and
ammo
man.
The
rest
of
my
platoon
remained
on
the
other
four
helicopters
and
all
the
helicopters
took
off
for
their
mission.
Two
days
later,
I
found
out
that
the
first
helicopter
went
into
the
landing
zone
and
was
blown
up
with
all
onboard.
I
The
second
helicopter
came
in
and
was
also
destroyed
with
all
on
board.
Today,
I
still
suffer
from
survivalist
guilt,
because
I
wasn't
on
that
chopper,
so
I
know
all
too
well
why
the
Vietnam,
Memorial
Wall
is
so
important
in
honoring
and
remembering
we
have
had
the
responsibility
to
be
grateful
for
those
who
pay
the
ultimate
price
for
our
freedom,
while
serving
the
country
those
listed
on
the
wall
did
not
make
it
home.
They
were
not
alone,
as
they
had
spouses,
children,
parents,
sibling
and
friends
all
who
suffered
tragically
with
them.
I
We
need
to
honor
all
those
on
the
well
as
well
as
all
those
who
died
or
who
served
for
our
country.
We
need
to
take
seriously
the
idea
that
our
lives
in
America
were
not
just
given
to
us,
but
paid
for
by
the
highest
price
possible.
I
urge
you
to
remember
that
when
the
star-spangled
banner
is
played,
we
need
to
remember
those
who
served
in
the
service
of
our
country
and
those
never
came
home.
I
I
believe
that
I
made
it
home
due
to
God
watching
out
for
me
having
great
soldiers
with
me
and
my
platoon
and
elsewhere,
and
then
I
was
extremely
lucky
one
last
item-
and
this
is
for
all
of
you
who
have
served
in
combat-
we
were
pretty
normal
people
before
we
served
once
we
served
in
combat
some
of
us
came
back
with
hidden
baggage.
Post-Traumatic
stress
I
thought
that
since
I
made
it
home
with
both
arms
and
legs,
intact,
I
had
no
problems
but
35
years
ago,
or
35
years
later,
after
coming
home.
I
Strange
things
started
to
happen.
Ptsd
is
not
uncommon
for
those
who
witnessed
Horrors
in
war
or
anywhere
I
urgently
request,
all
those
who
have
served
if
you
still
have
nightmares.
If
you
have
family
worrying
about
you,
please
don't
be
too
proud
to
seek
help
whether
you
served
in
World,
War,
2,
Korea,
Vietnam,
Iraq
or
Afghanistan,
or
anyone
else
in
the
world
you
deserve
the
best
our
country
has
to
offer
the
Vet
Center
in
San.
Jose
has
helped
me
to
understand
things.
I
could
not
figure
out,
especially
survivors
go,
so
please
seek
help.
B
J
This
is
the
Kennedy
middle
school
choir.
My
name
is
Shelly
Durbin
we're
going
to
be
singing
two
songs
for
you.
One
is
a
contemplative
song,
I'm
sure
pretty
much.
All
of
you
will
recognize
it's
Oh,
Danny
Boy
and
then
we'll
be
ending
our
portion
of
the
program
with
a
patriotic
medley
called
united.
We
stand.
B
B
B
C
We
reflected
on
the
fact
that
there
are
people
who
are
willing
to
bleed
and
die
to
maintain
our
way
of
life
and
our
freedom,
we're
here
to
remember
what
those
people
did
and
what
they
are
doing
for
us,
as
we
speak
and
further
to
recognize
that
that
freedom
that
we
have
was
bought
at
such
a
high
price
that
we
have
an
obligation.
We
have
an
obligation
to
make
this
society
in
this
country
the
best
it
can
possibly
be.
C
C
Giving
one's
life
is
a
one-time
event.
Their
pain
is
over
the
pain
for
the
family
continues.
There
are
people
who
are
still
dying
for
us
and
we
have
that
obligation
to
remember
that
to
support
those
families
and
to
live
out
the
dream
that
this
country
has
and
is
in
the
process
of
developing
and
will
one
day
fully
achieve
so
I
want
to.
Thank
you
all
for
coming
and
I
would
like
to
turn
this
over
I.
Think
sandy
has
some
comments
for
us.
K
The
Cupertino
middle
school
advanced
band
would
like
complete
art,
we'd
like
to
complete
our
portion
of
the
program
with
the
first
piece
called
proudly.
We
hail
it's
a
setting
of
our
national
anthem,
arranged
by
Brian
ball,
midges
and
we'd
like
to
finish
with
a
piece
called
new
wait
on
the
water.
It
is
an
arrangement
of
an
African
American
folk
song
called
wait
on
the
water,
and
this
is
written
by
all
of
us,
hail
stork,
and
thank
you
so
much
for
allowing
us
to
be
here
today.
D
You
know
this
this
event
today
is
the
perfect
example
of
why
I'm
very
proud
to
live
in
Cupertino
I
mean
our
young
people
are
so
incredibly
talented.
Our
education
system
excels
their
perfect
example.
This
memorial
and
the
Vietnam
War
wall
are
a
perfect
example
of
government
education,
local
local
veterans
veterans
from
throughout
the
community
and
a
small
group
of
people
who
came
together
because
they
had
a
dream
to
build
a
memorial
to
honor
all
veterans,
I,
don't
think
that
happens
just
everywhere
and
I,
don't
think
it
happens
by
magic.
D
I
think
it
happens,
because
there
is
an
attitude
coming
together
in
this
community
when
things
really
matter
and
when
you
need
to
get
something
done,
you
get
it
done.
I
am
very
proud,
as
Donna
and
Corky
Axelson
are
to
be
the
founders
of
this
memorial
and
by
the
way,
every
school
of
five
of
our
high
schools.
All
25
of
our
middle
schools
and
elementary
schools
have
purchased
pavers
raised
money
and
purchase
pavers
in
this
memorial
to
honor
veterans.
That
shows
you
a
huge
amount
of
devotion
and
knowledge
from
our
educational
community.
D
I
know
that
the
city
in
particular
Dave,
Knapp
and
Rick
Kitson,
want
to
bring
the
schools
to
learn
more
about
the
Vietnam
War
to
experience
the
Vietnam
Wall
and
we're
hoping
all
of
you.
Young
people
who
are
here
today
take
that
message
back
with
you
and
share
it
with
your
fellow
students
and
bring
your
families
here.
I
want
to
invite
all
of
you
to
come
back
tomorrow.
We
have
a
very
special
Veterans
Day
ceremony
every
year
on
11/11/11
November
11th
at
11
a.m.
D
we
do
a
Veterans
ceremony
right
here
this
year
we
have
a
special
one
and
including
the
part
that
honors
all
veterans,
we
will
not
be
honoring
Vietnam
veterans,
especially,
and
we
will
be
having
the
Vietnam
veterans
escort
us
all
to
the
Vietnam
Wall
at
the
end,
so
I
thank
you
for
coming
today.
I
hope
you
stay
and
experience
what
you
have
here.
I
hope
you
say
thank
you
as
we
are
trying
to
do
to
all
our
Vietnam
veterans
when
they
came
home,
they
didn't
get
thanked
so
from
us
to
all
of
you.
A
A
A
If
you're
a
block
leader
in
cupertino,
you
got
the
inside
story
about
some
unfortunate
and
rather
exciting
events
we
had
last
month
and
if
you
live
in
Cupertino
and
you're,
not
a
block
leader
think
about
it
and
lastly,
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
so
much
for
coming
out.
Thank
you
for
the
the
kids
for
coming
out.
A
A
A
The
people
that
we
agree
with,
and
especially
important,
is
the
freedom
to
honor
those
we
don't
agree
with,
and
perhaps
that's
the
greatest
honor
of
living
and
working
in
this
community
for
cupertino
is
this
as
a
community
that
gets
it
where
we
honor
everyone,
old
and
new
young
and
old
people.
We
agree
with
people,
we
don't
agree
with,
but
we
always
honor
and
we
always
come
together
to
celebrate
everyone.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
joining
us
this
afternoon,
encourage
you
to
go
over
and
see
the
wall.
Thank
you.