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U.S. Army and Vietnam War veteran Carey “C.T.” Christie is asking for navy organizations and the group to unite and provides their assist for the addition of a medevac helicopter at the reproduction Vietnam Memorial Wall at the Elizabethtown Nature Park.
“I want to ask all veteran organizations to come together to show unity to bring the medevac helicopter to our great Vietnam Memorial Wall and to put our differences aside and unify our efforts to honor the medevac Huey that saved so many lives on the battlefield,” Christie stated Sunday.
Christie stated the addition would honor the Huey itself and all of the medevac crews that saved many lives throughout the Vietnam War. He offered the addition of a full-scale reproduction helicopter throughout the Sept. 13 Elizabethtown City Council assembly.
Since then, he has been advised the council shouldn’t be in favor of the Medevac helicopter at the nature park.
One motive Christie was given towards the helicopter is that it might take away from the serenity at the wall and nature park.
“I do not see how or understand how adding such a great honor and tribute would take away from the serenity that is at the Vietnam veterans memorial wall,” he stated.
Mayor Jeff Gregory stated town is happy concerning the risk of a full-scale Huey in the neighborhood. However, as a gaggle, he stated Friday tht council felt it wasn’t of their finest curiosity to have it at the nature park and that the reproduction Vietnam Memorial Wall makes extra of a press release as a standalone monument.
Gregory stated town supplied the choice of the American Legion Park on North Miles Street.
On Saturday, a busload of Vietnam veterans from Lexington made a cease at the reproduction Vietnam Memorial Wall in Elizabethtown. A small ceremony was held to acknowledge the veterans and honor their fallen comrades. A number of of the veterans in attendance spoke about how essential the medevac was to survival in Vietnam.
“There could have been many more names than the 58,320 names on the wall if it wasn’t for the medevac helicopter,” Brig. Gen. Benjamin Adams stated. If it wasn’t for the medevac helicopters, Adams stated his brother-in-law’s title might need been on the wall.
“Only God knows how many names we’d actually be reading on the wall,” he stated. “… What could be more fitting than having a Huey Medevac helicopter in the background of this memorial and in this park?”
Vietnam veteran Ron Logan stated the Huey was not only a helicopter. It was an emblem of freedom to these within the jungle. It saved them in contact with households, introduced provides and far more.
“It brought you a lot of things — hope,” he stated. “If It wasn’t for the helicopter that 58,000 on that wall would be 158,000. … Take that to heart. You can’t have a wall without a helicopter.”
During Saturday’s occasion, the veterans offered Gregory with a print depicting a soldier standing guard ready for the inbound medevac to be placed on show at City Hall. They additionally offered him with smaller, framed variations of the print to current to metropolis council members.
The reproduction Vietnam Memorial Wall is an 80% scale reproduction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Veterans Tribute Group signed a contract with town in March 2017 for the wall, which is constructed close to the Hardin County Veterans Tribute at the park. The wall was devoted in April 2018.
Christie spearheaded fundraising, design and building of the wall. The thought was to construct a memorial to honor all providers, all veterans, all conflicts and provides all veterans a spot to come back replicate and heal and bear in mind. And it’s performed that, Christie stated.
They additionally wished to honor all canines and canine handlers, which they’ve performed with the addition of the canine handler statue.
Christie stated the medevac helicopter shouldn’t be including a brand new monument within the park, it’s including to the already present memorial. He stated the helicopter will appear to be it’s hovering above the apex of the wall.
“I feel this addition to our great Vietnam veteran memorial wall would not disgrace the nature park, but add more honor, prestige, and greatness to our Vietnam veterans memorial wall,” he stated. “I am asking all veterans and veterans organizations to please come on board with this project and set aside all differences to come together to honor the medevac services that still go on today a save so many lives.”
Christie stated he and others have begun assortment signatures to petition the council to rethink its determination to not set up the medevac helicopter at the nature park.
Mary Alford could be reached at 270-505-1417 or [email protected].
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