For all you vets out there...Lest We Forget (Many Images)

OldGuy

Last week, I was privileged to be among 4 other 'togs, and 2 videographers to volunteer to document the annual "Lest We Forget" veterans tribute for 4 days in St. Joseph, Michigan. It was a very emotional and heart-wrenching event.
There were too many events and presentations to go into detail here. The one thing that photos cannot capture is the solemn stories of the battles the presenters were in and their comrades they lost.

1.


2. A 7/8 scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial with all 58,000 names.


3.


4.


5. The Memorial for the Berrien County residents lost in vietnam.


6. Berrien County Sheriff's Colorguard.


7.


8. War Dog Memorial. 4,000 lost their lives... They saved over 10,000 lives!


9.


10.


11. Reverend John Steer, Vietnam, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart. Wounded by "friendly fire".


12. Pastor Bud Baker, Vietnam, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart.


13. Chaplain Stan Beach, Vietnam, Bronze Star w/"V", Purple Heart.


14. Hershel Williams, WWII, Iwo Jima, Congressional Medal of Honor, Purple Heart. 27(?) MOH were given on Iwo, 13 came home. He is the last surviving.


15. Duane Dewey, Korea, Congressional Medal of Honor, Purple heart.


16. Leap Dogs Parachute Jump Team.


!7.


18.


20. Scale replica of the "The Three Soldiers" Monument.


21.


22. The Business end.


23. The Friendly end.


24. Huey Medevac, Vietnam.


25. The last time these guys rode in one of these, they were on stretchers and wrapped in ponchos.


26.


27.


One other aspect of this tribute was a photo-essay on WWI veterans. There are only 2 left in the world - one American and one Australian. The American is 110 year-old Frank Buckles. There is a movement to have Frank be given a State Funeral when he passes. If anyone is interested in supporting this effort, contact me and I will get you the website info.

Thanks for looking.

bfjr

Thanks

Familiar Images that I'm proud to have been part of.

Patti

Great tribute. I work in a Vet hospital in Canada, WW2 & Korean vets. We're losing our vets at a terrible pace now.

rpcrowe

Great coverage...
Your coverage is both photographically great and emotionally charged. Although all of the images are super, the one that impacted me the most was the vet with the prosthetic left leg looking over the names on the replica of the Vietnam Wall. I think that I know what he was feeling.

I didn't anticipate that being near or touching the replica of the Vietnam Wall would impact me until it came to my city and I touched the names of men whom I knew and who were cut off in the bloom of their youth. I was, however, profoundly touched by the memorial, even though it was a replica.

I experienced the same type of deep feelings when viewing your images. My thanks for posting them.

Combat Cameraman
Pacific Fleet Combat Camera Group
1966-1971

OldGuy

Thanks to all for viewing the images and your comments. I am still trying to process the emotions of the event.

RP, that vet with the prosthetic leg is Chaplain Beach also seen in #5 & #13. Go Navy, my father was a Chief Motor Machinist Mate on an LST during WWII.

Best wishes to all of you.