The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s 'In Memory' Day 2010 Ceremony honored 97 individuals. It was held on Monday, April 19, at 10:00 a.m., at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The ceremony, being sponsored by the Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA (NCOA) for a seventh year in a row, honors those who died as a result of the Vietnam War, but whose deaths do not fit the Department of Defense criteria for inclusion on The Wall.

Nearly 700 family members, friends and veterans attended this year’s ceremony. Family members read aloud the names of their loved ones being honored and then placed tributes at the panel of The Wall that corresponds most closely to the honorees’ dates of service. Throughout the ceremony, volunteers and friends will read the names of the 1,874 past honorees.

Vietnam Veteran Brig. Gen. George Price, USA (Ret.), keynote speaker. • Richard C. Schneider, executive director for government affairs, Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA, master of ceremonies. • Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R-Alaska). • Lynda Benedict, wife of 1998 honoree Christopher Benedict, pledge of allegiance. • Thomas Buckley, husband of 2009 honoree Lynda Van Devanter Buckley. • Staff Sgt. Robert Lupo Sr., USA (Ret.), Chaplain, Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club - Alaska - 'Joker' will be reading his poem “Emotions.” • Terry E. Brown, supervisory park ranger, National Mall and Memorial Parks.

This was the 12th Annual 'In Memory' Ceremony

If you know of anyone whose death was related to Vietnam War involvement, please complete an 'In Memory' application and return it to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund along with a copy of the death certificate, proof of service in Vietnam*, a clean photograph of the honoree and a short biography.

Here is a link to obtain an ‘In Memory’ Application | http://act.vvmf.org/page/s/2017-in-memory-application

It is hard to lose someone in battle, abruptly and without warning. So, too, is it hard to return from war, with a life so broken that it never repairs. For the service members who return and their families, the sometimes slow disintegration of body, mind and spirit can be as devastating as wartime loss. The obstacles faced because of handicap and disillusionment go on unabated.

'In Memory' acknowledges the hardships encountered and the strengths manifested years after the initial war incidents.

ALL the Veterans names are read.

SSG Robert J. Lupo, Sr., USA – Retired Chaplain, Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club - Alaska - 'Joker'

“Emotions”
By SSG Robert J. Lupo, Sr., USA - Retired
Chaplain, Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club - Alaska - 'Joker' |
During war and peace, in the Air, Land and Sea,
Our veterans paid to keep America free.

I honor those who came home alive,
I mourn for those who served and died.

When I attend their graves and all is still,
My heart swells, and my tear ducts fill.

My voice trembles, when I try to speak,
It’s hard to form the words I seek.

I will stand in the rain, and weep, with no shame,
To pay homage to them, those women and men.

They answered the call: “Freedom for all!”
And the price of freedom? It’s written on the wall.

‘Tis a righteous thing to bow one’s head,
In tribute to our veteran dead.

And forget not the wounded, who will never heal,
Who left their eyes, and limbs, on the battlefield.

When someone yelled, “MEDIC”, in the middle of hell,
A corpsman came running, through bullets and shells.

He controlled the bleeding. He eased the pain,
Then ran to help another...sometimes in vain.

But not all wounds are visible, like P.T.S.S.,
That’s why some, who return, are very depressed.

Awakening in anguish, from nightmares of war,
Sweating and shaking, they cry out - “No more!”

As they lie there in agony, with their souls laid bare,
Take hold of them gently. Show them you care.

Remember also the veterans, who served in the rear,
Assigned to locations, both far and near.

Because food and munitions, and mechanics, and technicians,
Are all vital to support the success of war missions.

Our POW’s and MIA’s shall not be forgotten,
Hear what I say?

We will continue the search; we will not end our toil,
Until they’re all back on American Soil.

Keep them always, in your heart and prayers;
They deserve no less, the glory is theirs.

So be not afraid to show your love,
For those who live, and those called above.

Retain them in your memory,
There, they will live eternally.

And whence comes our time, both yours and mine,
Let us hope that those we leave behind,

Will brave the way, with the same devotion,
To salute our veterans, through heartfelt emotions.

2010 'In Memory' Day Honorees | Charles Hamilton Shurtleff, Fairbanks AK 21-Feb-42 6-Aug-03 | Arvin Ross Mortensen, Mesa AZ 19-Nov-41 2-Mar-05 | Lowell Trent Faulkinbury, Phoenix AZ 28-May-49 22-Aug-04 | Malcolm Charles Bauer, Carmel CA 28-Feb-44 4-May-08 | Gary Lee Hill Lancaster, CA 7-Dec-41 13-May-96 | Samuel Paul Cochrane, Livermore CA 25-Mar-41 27-Jun-05 | Darrell Ronald Olthoff, Pueblo CO 25-Apr-44 30-Mar-09 | Robert Lawrence Hanover, Colchester CT 13-Feb-46 29-Oct-97 | Wilfred Levi Ricard, Storrs CT 25-Aug-47 7-Sep-00 | Philip Robert Cooper, Bayonet Point FL 20-Aug-42 5-Jan-08 | George Earl Chandler, Jr. Fort Meyers FL 12-Oct-46 31-Dec-98 | William Black, St. John Hobe Sound FL 5-Apr-42 27-May-09 | Chance Allen Cannon, Atlanta GA 16-Jan-50 4-Nov-08

Jeffery Scott Hutcheson, Atlanta GA 29-Oct-50 13-Dec-08 | Jackie Ronald Patterson, Sr. Carrollton GA 13-Aug-39 21-Sep-94 | James Thomas Alexander, Ludowici GA 18-Mar-41 10-Jul-97 | Donald Edward Havey, Chicago IL 1-May-47 8-Jan-05 | Billy Wayne McPherson, Joliet IL 9-Feb-45 9-Apr-06 | John Ernest Dawley, Jr. Naperville IL 29-Nov-47 6-Mar-09

Dennis Charles Hickman, Naperville IL 7-Nov-44 25-Jun-07 | Thomas Michael Morrison, Northlake IL 2-Jul-47 5-Mar-09 | David Kent Conway, Pekin IL 8-Apr-48 16-Feb-98 | Jimmie Earl Rogers, Pekin IL 12-Jun-47 14-Jun-09 | Frank Norman Siegfried, Wood Dale IL 23-Jul-48 9-Jan-05 | Jarrett Lynn Huff, Carroll IA 19-Apr-48 10-Sep-05 | William Allen Gibbs, Webster City IA 22-Mar-48 17-Jun-08 | Ross William Snare, Jr. Leavenworth KS 21-Jul-30 18-Sep-96 | Gary Glen Feduke, Shawnee KS 2-Jul-48 5-Feb-04 | Teddy Rousseau Bunnell, Munfordville KY 10-Feb-46 28-Jun-08 | Charles Vandenberg "Chick", Lord Baltimore MD 19-May-42 27-Jul-00 | William Ralph Wall, Baltimore MD 22-Jun-25 21-May-69 | George Edward Carder, Cumberland MD 19-Apr-28 19-Feb-09 | Unarice Duncan, Fort Washington MD 1-Jun-48 21-Mar-89 | Ira Richard Priddy, Silver Spring MD 7-Apr-41 17-Sep-04 | Dennis Leo Gazaille, Adams MA 24-Mar-49 8-Dec-08 | Robert Krisko, Danvers MA 6-Feb-32 10-Feb-67 | Stephen John Zardis, Malden MA 26-Jan-48 31-May-07 | Alan Wayne Pare, Norton MA 8-Jul-48 24-Apr-89 | Charles Arthur Hancock, Weymouth MA 9-Jul-45 6-Mar-04 | Richard Daryl Moore, Commerce Tulp MI 28-Mar-48 7-Sep-07 | Anthony Thomas Musto, Detroit MI 4-Nov-47 27-Nov-03 | Wayne Floyd Paulisse, Grandville MI 19-Aug-47 28-Jul-81 | Terry Allan Prout, Marquette MI 19-Dec-47 23-Aug-09 | Leslie Willard Viets, Milan MI 31-Mar-50 22-Jul-82 | John Thomas McKay, Jr. Waterford MI 4-Dec-47 31-Mar-06 | Barry James McArthur, St. Paul MN 19-Feb-46 7-May-00 | David Tully Johnson, Walls MS 27-Oct-47 15-Aug-08 | Larry L. Fines, Independence MO 13-Mar-49 2-Sep-09

Craig Walter Anderson, St. Louis MO 24-Aug-49 12-Mar-07 | Jerry Allen Barlow, Westboro MO 10-Jul-38 7-Apr-85 | Charles Joseph Henry, Las Vegas NV 3-Jun-48 15-Oct-09 | Ted Allen Roseberry, Phillipsburg NJ 25-Jun-45 18-Jan-09 | Donald James Hedges, Silver City NM 13-Jul-27 30-Jan-07 | Jay Robert Wechsler, Brooklyn NY 16-May-42 1-Nov-88 | Michael Stanley Gregoreski, Dunkirk NY 5-Nov-46 4-Aug-99 | Edward (Pete) Stuart Harrison, Elmira NY 26-Apr-47 20-Jan-06 | Stanley Matthew Kuchlewski, Levittown NY 14-Jun-47 18-Nov-08 | Harold Ray Wickey, Jr., Northport NY 10-Mar-51 29-Jun-73 | Dale Leon Vincent, Jr., Port Washington NY 28-Apr-46 22-Apr-09 | Anthony John Zavarelli, Staten Island NY 4-Feb-50 13-Jun-97 | James Joseph Killoren, Jr., Syracuse NY 2-Apr-47 19-Jan-06 | Jerry Bernard Kline, Akron OH 10-May-48 24-Feb-09 | William Howard Hegge, Cincinnati OH 31-Aug-49 3-Mar-04 | Michael Ray Dearth, Dayton OH 6-Aug-45 3-Aug-07 | James Jospeh Tyson, Liberty Township OH 8-Sep-47 16-Nov-08 | John Daniel Johnson, Lorain OH 9-Sep-49 14-Jan-10 | Donald Richard Staley, Mt. Gilead OH 14-Aug-42 7-May-09 | Michel Edward Tremmel, Sandusky OH 24-Nov-46 11-Nov-08 | Jerry Lawrence Degnan, Youngstown OH 3-Aug-39 9-Aug-67 | Tommie Lee Walker, Lebanon OR 20-Jul-47 24-Aug-07 | George Francis Wojtowicz, Sr. Burgettstown PA 5-Feb-47 6-Jun-09 | Dennis Lee Gump, Canonsburg PA 20-Dec-45 10-Feb-08 | David James Pistachio, Ellwood City PA 2-Aug-45 16-Sep-07

Donald Dwight McCans, Gettysburg PA 10-Sep-48 29-Sep-08 | Stanley Warren Kates, Jr., Philadelphia PA 11-May-48 8-Jul-09 | Allen Kurtz, Philadelphia PA 20-Jun-44 19-Dec-03 | Jeffery Duane Gardner, Pittsburgh PA 19-Dec-46 18-Oct-04 | William S. Pierce, Russelton PA 8-Feb-47 11-Sep-08 | Thomas Anthony Capoccioni, Sarver PA 1-Jan-32 16-Oct-05 | Domenic Gerard Penardo, Coventry RI 16-Nov-46 28-Oct-08 | Larry Hughey Poore, Kingsport TN 2-Dec-44 8-Feb-08 | Hardie Mai Phipps, Jr., Memphis TN 2-Mar-46 21-Feb-09 | James Arthur Murray, Nashville TN 20-Mar-49 31-Oct-70 | Max Junior Prentice Harker, Heights TX 27-Apr-38 2-Jul-08 | Dalton E. Alexander, Houston TX 13-Dec-41 17-Dec-07 | Jose Sanchez, Laredo TX 26-Nov-45 4-Oct-08 | Holley Joe Walker, League City TX 28-Sep-45 8-Mar-08 | Fred George Cimmerman III, Waco TX 27-Mar-48 12-Feb-04 | John Marlin Evanson, Waco TX 45-Dec-45 16-Jan-00 | Joseph Frank Paone, Ashburn VA 30-May-38 21-Jun-07 | Bobby Denour Baker, Fredericksburg VA 28-Oct-42 17-Dec-08 | Andrew John Davies, Maple Valley WA 6-Mar-47 3-Oct-88 | Kenneth Lee Gue, Huntington WV 17-Mar-42 22-May-08 | Thomas Craig Davies, Lake Mills WI 29-May-47 17-Apr-08 | Jacob Louis Drager, Medford WI 28-Jan-47 23-Sep-99 | Kenneth Rae McGuire, Rib Lake WI 2-Aug-47 28-Sep-68 | Bruce Allen Peters, Waukesha WI 9-Oct-45 12-Mar-09

Here is a link to obtain an ‘In Memory’ Application | http://act.vvmf.org/page/s/2017-in-memory-application

Mike ‘Doc’ Spresser, has made a bamboo frame with all military service ensigns to outline the 'In Memory' plaque. | 302-265-5154