Article submitted by City of Sedona AZ and written by City Councilman John Martinez

Sedona AZ (March 23, 2016) –  Back in November, I wrote about the creation and design of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. This month’s article is a reflection from actual Vietnam veterans and what the Vietnam Wall means to them.

The phrase “all gave some; some gave all” is widely attributed to the Korean War veteran and Purple Heart recipient Howard William Osterkamp from Dent, Ohio. Osterkamp served in the Army from 1951 to 1953, during which he experienced heavy combat in Korea with his unit, the C Company, 5th Regimental Combat Team.

This phrase was made popular again, when in 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus released his album, Some Gave All. The actual phrasing that used this message is as follows:

“All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all.”

On March 31, the Traveling Vietnam Wall will be erected in Posse Grounds Park as a tribute to all the Vietnam veterans that returned or lost their lives from this conflict. Please plan to visit and celebrate this special event and honor all veterans from WWII to our recent conflicts in the Middle East. The Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Committee is comprised of approximately twenty-six members from all over the Verde Valley, and almost 70 percent are Vietnam veterans. These are a few of their reflections of the Wall:

“This is what I think of whenever I see I see the Wall. The first thing that comes to mind is what a waste. So many lives were lost for a political agenda. I have close friends on that Wall; one was a guy that I went to high school with. We were drafted on the same day.” – Dan Aragaki, Vietnam veteran

America’s Vietnam Wall in Washington DC

“The Wall is a very emotional to me for a couple of reasons. First, I think it is a very fitting tribute to those American service men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam while answering their country’s call to arms. Second, one of the names on the Wall is that of a childhood friend of mine. Although I have never had the privilege of visiting the Memorial in Washington, D.C., I have visited the traveling Wall twice and each time I looked at and touched my friend’s name was a very emotional experience for me.” – Clint Lisk, Vietnam veteran

“December of 1967 I stood with my head bowed in silent prayer while standing in front of the closed casket of my friend and classmate Will Machacek. Little did I realize that soon I too would join many other young men in a war where those who sacrificed for so many were treated with great disdain.

The Wall reminds me of that day in 1967 and all the days that I spent in South Vietnam. It reminds me of the sacrifice by so many young men who died so I could live and experience what they could not. The Wall reminds me of the obligation I have to the more than 58,000 souls whose names are listed on it to make sure that I make my life matter and I make a positive difference in our society in their memory.” – Eduard Uzumeckis, Vietnam veteran, Ph.D.

As a final tribute to our veterans, this is “Before You Go (The Vietnam Version)”:

“Quietly you’ve all turned gray

You did your job – You saved our way

Our life of freedom you preserved

We’ve thanked you less than you’ve deserved

You never boasted, bragged or asked

For adulation for your past

You sacrificed your youth to war

We owe you more, we owe you more

Thank you for your wondrous feats

For open speech and quiet streets

For worship as we choose to pray

For preservation of our way

You leave us blessed with every breath

That cost you arms and legs and death

You did the job you knew was right

And silently, you cry at night

For bodies maimed and comrades lost

For sights beyond our furthest thoughts

For what you’ve lived and felt and seen

For what the cost of freedom means

Before you go, we need to show

That in your silence we still know

What you accomplished and what you did

For who we are and how we live

So go with love with from wives and sons

And daughters for a job well done

From kids who’ve never seen a tank

We give you thanks, we give you thanks

Thank you for your wondrous feats

For open speech and quiet streets

For worship as we choose to pray

For preservation of our way

For homes and jobs and baseball games

For many colors, many names

You saved our lives and we’re still free

From shining sea to shining sea

Thank you… Thank you

Thank you…Go in peace.”

– Lyrics by Sam Bierstock, MD, Music by John Melnick, www.beforeyougo.us

This article was written by City Councilman John Martinez and submitted by the City of Sedona with the following disclaimer: The views that I have expressed are my personal opinions and not necessarily the opinions of the city of Sedona or the Sedona City Council.

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