Thursday, November 08, 2007

They gave their all; U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock,

They gave their all

BY ROBERT L. BAKER, Wyoming County Press Examiner 11/07/2007

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It was a day that U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock, says he will never forget.

Back in 1969, his dad, then a school teacher and football coach, called the 10-year-old Chris and his brother aside.

There, his father wept.

"It was the first time I had ever seen my dad cry," Carney said Friday as he reflected on his most stark memory of the Vietnam conflict. He recalled that at the time his dad had just received word that one of his former football players, Randy Shackelford, then a 20-year-old Marine, had been killed in a cross fire.

The first term Congressman and member of the U.S. Naval Reserve has had time in his 10 months of congressional service in Washington to reflect on the continuing sacrifice that soldiers make on behalf of the United States around the world.

And, he says he is humbled to be allowed to read the names Thursday of persons identified on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Originally dedicated 25 years ago this weekend, Carney said he vividly remembers first seeing the massive monument right after it was unveiled in the nation's capital back in 1982.

"Of course, the first thing I did was looked for Randy's name," Carney said. "I found it and touched the etched name and felt a real connection."

"What a spectacular tribute the wall has been," Carney added. "You can trace the outline of a name and feel a real spirit in your fingers."

Now, with 58,253 names of those servicemen and women who gave their all during Vietnam, it is arguably "the most visited memorial in the country," according to the Website, www.virtualwall.org

Carney acknowledged, however, that as spectacular a monument as the wall is, "it was "quite a travesty a generation ago" when returning soldiers were treated by many with anything but respect.

"Acknowledgment of their sacrifice has helped us mature as a people, and if you look at the way they were treated compared to our soldiers returning from Iraq today, you can see we have really grown up," Carney said.

"You can never underestimate the importance of a strong military and what it means to peace and security in the world," he said.

"I never understood why people would not honor the service and sacrifice of another," he said, noting that his uncles, father, and brothers have all served at some point in the military.

"It is our tradition, and something we most certainly respect in others," he said

The Tunkhannock Area High School marching band is one of six nationally that has been invited to play during the Saturday festivities marking the 25th anniversary of the wall, and band director Ryan Zellner says the Tigers' performance will consist of a respectful 'You're a Grand Old Flag' and the 'Liberty Bell March.'

Saturday festivities in Washington will focus on a rededication of the Wall at 10 a.m.

At 11 a.m., a parade will start at Constitution Avenue and continue for about 1.5 miles.

Zellner anticipated as many as 100,000 people may be on hand.

For those who cannot get to Washington, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Wall is traveling to Northeast Pennsylvania and will be on display 24 hours a day, at Nay Aug Park in Scranton, from Thursday through Sunday.


©The New Age Examiner 2007