P.O.W. - M.I.A. Remembrance Day
April 29, 2001
Sunday , 1:30 PM
Everyone is welcome
Call post at
201-343-2213
for directions
Clifford Dunn Post #117
229 W. Shore Ave.
Bogota, NJ
The VietNam Veterans' Memorial Wall Page
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***UPDATE***
The 14th Annual POW-MIA Day of Remembrance & Walk
30 April 2000
A poor forecast earlier in the week for this day yielded way to a beautiful sunny day for the event. Those
who attended could of spent this fine day in many other ways, but they chose to remember those who haven’t come
home.
The walk started at Borough Hall in Bogota and ended up at The American Legion, Clifford Dunn Post No. 117. The
outdoor ceremonies consisted of the presentation of the colors, a prayer, and wreath presentation. Roll was called
for each name of New Jersey’s missing heroes, followed by the response of “Absent” and the tolling of a bell.
“Taps” was then played before we moved to the inside ceremonies.
Once we assembled inside, we were welcomed, said the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang the National Anthem. After
the Invocation we heard from several guest speakers. A few of the things that stand out in my mind is an email
which Donald Bann, organizer of the event, received from a woman in Indiana. She said the only thing that kept
her from attending was the First Communion of a relative. Another is the story of a wife who’s husband has not
returned from Viet Nam. She’s kept the same car they had acquired before he left, still waiting for him to come
home. We were told of the crew of BARON 52, shot down while observing the “Ho Chi Minh Trail” after the Peace Accords
were signed. 23 fragments were recovered from a crash site, returned, and examined. The Central Identification
Laboratory in Hawaii admitted that these fragments could not be proven to be of human origin. On 27 March 1996,
“burial” of the fragments took place at Arlington National Cemetery. Our government tells their families that the
“case has been resolved.” What a travesty!
The event closed with a benediction and the singing of God Bless America. After that, some fine chow was served
and we had a chance to chat with one another. Oh, and just one more thing. A card was signed by all those
in attendance and will be placed at the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Wall sometime in the near future.
I would like to thank a couple of fine gentlemen who served with the U.S. Merchant Marine, Thomas J Clossey and
Louis Gautier who adopted me into the Merchant Marine and asked me to fall into the formation alongside them for
the walk. Thanks again guys, and thanks for your service to our country, and not forgetting. Thanks also to Donald
Bann who started the event and I’ll see you next year. Thanks to all those who participated and for remembering
those who have yet to return home.
Never Forget!!! Let’s bring them all home.
Tim Beeck - concerned citizen and veteran.
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