Chris Comeau, Ron Bergeron and Tom Matteson passing through the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Site Honor Portal. Worcester was a gracious host not only to the Memorial but the attendees, who were treated with much respect and honor.
This is the reviewing stand for pre-registered attendees. We sat on a hill to the left of the stage during the ceremony
These are the dignitaries who were in attendance and spoke at the dedication. The second from left was Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. A graduate of Yale University, John Kerry entered the Navy after graduation, becoming a Swift Boat officer, serving on a gunboat in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. He received a Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three awards of the Purple Heart for his service in combat. In addition to members of the state legislature, the Governor, Jane Swift spoke.
Ron Bergeron and Tom Matteson as the ceremonies began with an Honor Guard parade.
Senator John Kerry speaking to the attendees. The lady with the rather large
hat to the far right was quite a lady. Her name is Maureen Dunn and she
is one of the founding members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FAMILIES OF
POW/MIA. Her husband was one of our lost Brothers who was never accounted for
in the Vietnam Conflict. The lady is tireless in her quest and we applaud her
efforts on behalf of the men who never returned from Vietnam. In the foregrounds
is the Worcester choral group, the Salisbury Singers who performed the musical
portion of the Dedication.
The Place of Names site. In scripted were the names of 1,536 sons and one daughter of Massachusetts, who sacrificed their lives in the effort in South Vietnam.
Bergeron, Matteson and Comeau taking a break at the Place of Names Memorial Site
The site of Tom Nickerson's tribute on the Place of Names site
The enlargement of Tom Nickerson's inscription. Tom was a resident of Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod which has a rich nautical history of Nickerson ancestors who served on whaling ships during the 19th century .
The men of our Association with a fellow member from the 4th Infantry Division
The view looking away from the Place of Names. To the left is the Place of Flags, To the right is the Place of Words
The view looking to the Place of Words at the Memorial Site. This was the most moving part of our site. The Stones were inscribed with letters that were written home by our Brothers while they served in Vietnam. They sounded very familiar to us. We wrote home similar stories and told of our dreams upon returning. Click on the link at the bottom and you can read the letters that were chiseled in the Place of Words site.
The men of the Association in front of the Place of Flags
This is the hyperlink to the Official Mass. Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Site