Memorial Day observances took place this morning at the Dorchester Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Morrissey Boulevard. The granite memorial stones include the names of 79 Dorchester men who were killed while serving in the US armed forces in Vietnam War.
A group of about 60 people, including a contingent of former South Vietnamese military and police service members, most of whom are now long-time Dorchester residents – gathered for the ceremony. Several Gold Star families were in attendance, and coordinators Ed Pimental and Lisa Zinck coordinated the event and the special presentations.
Rev. Robert Kickham gave the invocation, but also shared a letter from one of the fallen, Douglas Allen Young, that was sent to his family on Christmas Day, 1967.
Above: US Marine veteran Charlie Santangelo, who served in Vietnam, salutes a fallen soldier with South Vietnamese Army member Tuan Tran. Seth Daniel photo
In the letter, Young talked about having been in a firefight that day and having been shot by a sniper. He was promised a Purple Heart by his commanding officer, and he noted he had been there seven months and only had five months left.
He also promised that when he came home, he would work with his dad in the family business.
However, Fr. Kickham read, in February 1968, Young volunteered to go on a mission and was killed that day – never returning home to Dorchester and never seeing his family again.
“Today is a day for families and friends to get together, but it’s a day we should not forget the ultimate sacrifice made by these men like Lance Corp. Young, who died so we can have the lives we live,” said Fr. Kickham.
Michelle Griffin lays a flower for Private First Class Robert A. Griffin, who was her husband’s uncle and namesake.
Lisa Zinck read a poem written about the Dorchester Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Former members of the South Vietnamese military sing the Vietnamese National Anthem. Seth Daniel photos
