Veterans Day Ceremony at Cleveland Park Vietnam War Memorial
As darkness fell on the Vietnam War Memorial in Cleveland Park, graying veterans of the Vietnam War, along with their families and a few friends, gathered with members of the Greenville County Vietnamese community to pay tribute to the Greenvillians who gave their lives in defense of freedom for the Vietnamese people.
A crowd of about one hundred huddled around the monument bearing the names of their fallen comrades and family members with their backs to a chilly breeze as Pat Ramsey, president of Chapter 523 Vietnam Veterans of America, issued a welcome and introduced the chapter Chaplain Dan Vess, who presented the Invocation.Members of the local Vietnam Veterans chapter and members of the South Vietnamese Veterans Association of South Carolina placed Wreaths at the memorial as attendees lit candles.
The guest speaker for the event was Mr. Phuong Vo, President of the Greenville Vietnamese Community, who thanked the veterans for their heroic sacrifices in support of the Vietnamese people.
The program concluded with a ceremonial flag retirement ceremony conducted by President Pat Ramsey.
Footnote: It is heartwarming to witness the appreciation shown by Vietnamese who were able to escape the Communist takeover of their homeland for the sacrifices made by Americans in uniform, and their families despite betrayal by the U. S. news media and Congress.
