(Seguin) — For many veterans who gathered in Seguin this Veterans Day, the sight of the traveling Vietnam Wall brought back a rush of memories — some they had long tried to forget, and others they were finally ready to face.
Veterans, families, and visitors from across the region traveled to Seguin’s Smokey Joe Williams Field on Tuesday for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) and Vietnam Wall — an 80-percent scale replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C. The exhibit also includes monuments commemorating each significant military action since WWII, leading up to Afghanistan.
Among those quietly tracing the etched names of fallen comrades was Jimmie Cole, a Vietnam veteran from New Braunfels who served with the U.S. Marines from 1965 to 1966.
Wearing his red Marine Corps jacket, Cole stood before the wall, overcome with emotion as he found the names of men he once called brothers.
“When we first went in May of 1965, there were 3,000 of us. By the time we left in June of ’66—in my platoon of 75, I’m one of five,” said Cole.
For Cole, the visit was more than remembrance. He says it was also a moment of long-overdue recognition for those who served in a war that divided a nation.
“It’s just now getting around to where they are honoring the Vietnam Veteran instead of the way that we were greeted when we first got home. I didn’t have any friends when I came home. They learned something from the other war that proceeded this one, where they didn’t honor us but at least they did learn to honor the ones that did come home later. The ones that I was greeted (not so kindly), I have nothing for them no more,” said Cole.
Proud of the effort to bring the traveling exhibit to the city was Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen. Dodgen says the meaningful event should serve as a reminder to all.
“I want them to always remember that our community worked for a long time to bring this and the remembrance and they came together as a community and as a coalition of veterans to have this be a success and I want folks to remember the Seguin/Guadalupe County Vietnam War casualties. We had them. We had six of them – Felipe Duran Camarillo (US Army); Jose Ballentine Campos (US Navy); Manuel Reyes Denton (US Navy); James Ray Fuller (US Air Force); Charles William Gaches (US Army); and Pedro Acevedo Gonzalez (US Army) — all the way from the date of loss of ’68; ’63; ’69; ’72; ’70 and then of course, we are privileged and honored to have Robert Lewis who currently resides in McQueeney. He was a captive for five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam,” said Dodgen.
Dodgen says she urges the community never to take the freedoms they enjoy for granted and hopes that this year’s full-fledged effort provides a continued daily reminder to honor these individuals for their sacrifices.
“These are the people who allow us to have the freedoms that we have today and those who are still serving and are going to serve and we need to remember them each and every day. As the general who spoke today, talked about, everyday should be Veterans Day and we need to be appreciative and keep them in our prayers,” said Dodgen.
For the mayor, experiencing the traveling wall, especially in her hometown, was also personal. She says it brought back favorite memories of her own special veteran.
“Jerry Greiner, my late husband was a Vietnam Vet. He was in the last part of the Vietnam War but was very very proud of that and in the U.S. Navy and so, yes, it is personal and I have to share with you a cute little tidbit – is that our very first date was to the Vietnam War Memorial which was traveling in San Antonio and he bought me ice cream. No food but ice cream. So, it’s a great day,” said Dodgen.
Tuesday’s events were the culmination of months of collaboration among the Doug Herrle Disabled American Veterans Chapter 61, the Guadalupe County Veterans Council, and the City of Seguin. The exhibit’s grand opening featured the singing of the national anthem by Clint Taft, music by the Seguin High School Mariachi Band, and the presentation of the colors by the American Indian Color Guard.
The day’s observance also featured the annual parade through downtown Seguin and a keynote address from Major General Bob Parker, U.S. Air Force (Retired), during the annual Veterans Day Ceremony held next door in the Seguin Coliseum.
Also surrounding the Vietnam Wall stood the Seguin Field of Honor®, a sea of nearly 300 American flags — each one dedicated to a veteran, active-duty service member, or first responder.
The traveling exhibit will remain open around the clock through Saturday, Nov. 15. There is no cost to enter.
