Seneca East Local School District hosted the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall from Sept. 5 to 9, featuring a 3/5 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The event honored 28 Seneca County men who died in the Vietnam War, according to a press release from Seneca County.
The memorial displayed the names of those who sacrificed their lives, reminding attendees of the loss and heroism associated with their service. “Had they lived, their children would be grandparents now,” the event highlighted, reflecting on the lives and potential futures lost.
The ceremony on Sept. 8 included the Seneca East Remember Vietnam event, where over 70 Vietnam veterans were recognized. The ceremony, held on the Seneca East football field, was a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by veterans, particularly those who faced rejection upon returning home.
Seneca East Superintendent Dr. Laura Kagy, who received a pin in honor of her father, Vietnam veteran Duane Myers, hosted the event. Special guests included State Senator Bill Reineke and State Representative Gary Click. Reineke addressed the mental burdens of wartime decision-making and extended thanks to both veterans and their families. Click, with personal ties to military service through his grandfather and son, expressed gratitude for the freedom secured by veterans.
Seneca County Commissioner Anthony Paradiso attended on Sept. 7, witnessing a performance by the Seneca East Select Choir and a skydiver descending with an American flag. Paradiso expressed appreciation for the veterans’ service and sacrifice.
The five-day event was a meaningful experience for attendees. Robert Cook, a Vietnam veteran from 1968-1969, valued the Traveling Wall for allowing more people to reflect on the sacrifices of others. “A lot of people can see it, and they’ll get the chance to think of the sacrifice of others,” Cook said.
Dennis Ryan, who served from 1969 to 1970, spent time at the wall searching for the names of friends he lost. “I’ve seen the real wall, but this is the first time I had the time to find their names,” Ryan noted. The emotional experience left him reflective and moved. “What does this mean to me? It’s too hard to answer that,” he said.
