VIETNAM TRAVELING WALL
The Vietnam Traveling Wall, aka “The Wall That Heals” will be in Cherry Hill April 16th – 19th, 2009.

The Wall That Heals exhibition features a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a Museum and an Information Center. "Bringing The Wall Home" to our community allows the souls enshrined on the Memorial to exist, once more, among family and friends in the peace and comfort of familiar surroundings.

The Legion Riders Post 84 Oaklyn, has been directed by Cherry Hill Post 372, to be the lead and contact for this escort when "The Wall" arrives in Cherry Hill on April 14, 2009. All are welcome for the escort. The ONLY ATTITUDE ACCEPTED is RESPECT.

The plan for the escort is
1000hrs Trailer arriving at Rest/Informational area, Rt 295 N between exit 2 and the weigh area (approximate mile 3, on Rt 295 N)
1145hrs Group Leader Ride briefing
1200hrs Groups briefing by their leader
1215hrs Saddle up
1230hrs Depart rest Area
1330hrs Arrive Cherry Will West High School

If possible, We prefer that groups arrive together.
Anyone arriving after 1200 will be directed to the overflow/individual parking area.

The Escort will be as follows LEO (Law Enforcement Officer/Car/Bike) in the lead
3 bikes Vietnam Vets that are Members of Cherry Hill Post 372 and Legion Riders The Trailer containing "The Wall" Immediately following the trailer will be One representative from each group that is providing the escort. 1 Legion Rider, 1 Friends of the Forgotten, 1 Rolling Thunder, 1 Patriot Guard, 1 WarriorsWatch etc.
This grouping has been decided because we are all Brothers/Veterans, those that care deeply for their country and those who have served. WE are/were Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine, Navy. We served together. Lets ride together

American Legion Riders: All ALR's together, Oaklyn, Wildwood, Lawrenceville etc
The remainder of the groups will follow in the order that a lot is chosen,
Individual riders will assemble at the tail.
LEO (Law Enforcement Officer/Car/Bike)

LEO will be blocking entrance ramps to 295 as we ride. 295 behind us will be shut down.

By 1200 hours April 10, 2009. for planning purposes we need the following
Your Name/Contact info, Name of your Group, an approximate number of riders.
The lottery for ride placement will occur at 1300 hours and published by 1500 hours, Friday April 10

Finally if you know of other groups that might want to escort the wall have them contact me as well as checking the proboard at http://wallescort372.proboards.com/index.cgi

Tom "Boozer" Beitz
American Legion Riders Post 84, Oaklyn, NJ
Wall Escort Co-ordinator

www.alrpost84.org <> www.warriorswatch.org <> http://wallescort372.proboards.com/index.cgi

 

See ya there today, rain or shine

 

Nothing was ever easy about Vietnam, nor was it yesterday but like Vietnam it was something that needed to be done.

I think before we can understand why we had to brave dangerous cold and wet conditions yesterday to escort the symbol of America’s Vietnam heroes we must first understand what they accomplished by their sacrifice and the conditions of that sacrifice. It is a great feat that has been buried and hidden by Pop culture and the intelligentsia but in history books still yet to written it will be noted as the defining moment of the 20th Century.

Vietnam was the lynchpin battle of the larger post World War II Cold War. What we thought were wars and conflicts like Korea, Vietnam, proxy wars in Africa, Asia and South America were when looked at, in the context of the larger era, a series of battles, some major some not so, that led to the defeat of worldwide communism’s proliferation among nations. The effort to subjugate peoples under the onerous yoke of communism was defeated in places like Vietnam and on the economic battlefield at home. It was a war of attrition. Fought in hot battles and fought with the economic might of the American worker, innovator, and entrepreneur. It was a war that pitted the free spirit of a proud and industrious people against a political machine that enslaved their population and mandated their loyalty not out of love but out of fear.

Before Vietnam, the great world powers of China and the Soviet Union and their puppet states behind the Iron Curtain were allies and friends bound together to destroy America and its allies, and stifle the freedom of all mankind. Through a series of wars, battles and conflicts this great World War III, known as the Cold War was anything but cold. We challenged the communists on every continent, through direct conflict, as in Korea and Vietnam or through conflicts fought by proxies in Africa, Asia and South America. It was longer and more far reaching than any modern war America has ever known. Vietnam served to divide our enemies leaving Soviets and the Chinese no longer allied and plainly distrustful of each other. From there our economic powerhouse fueled by the American spirit of innovation, hard work and entrepreneurism was able to apply the final blow to the Soviet juggernaut and tear down the Iron Curtain.

Vietnam was fought largely by men conscripted by a country who asked them for all that they had and then when they were finished with them threw them aside. These men and women were subjected to the slings and arrows of their countrymen as well as by the enemy in the field. Victorious on the battlefield they returned home not to joyous celebrations but instead to the disdain and disrespect of much lesser men who gave nothing for their country while expecting so much from it.

Yesterday, we had an opportunity to in a small but important way to right that wrong and correct that injustice. We showed our community, our fellow veterans and the families whose loved ones names appear on that wall that they mattered. We showed them that their sacrifice mattered, that they are heroes who should be revered and honored, for their sacrifice. Those men and women whose names appear on that wall like the patriots who went before them paid for the freedom that we all enjoy.

In raising my son I told him first and foremost he must have a relationship with God and secondly he must know who he is and what he is about as a foundation for all life’s decisions.

One of those foundational beliefs for me is acknowledging my debts. Yesterday I was able to do that. It was right and proper to take a day off of work and face cold and dangerous road conditions to bring attention, praise and honor to men and women who paid the ultimate price for my freedom. It was a debt I must pay.

Yes, years ago America was disrespectful to these men and women but what is so great about our country is that although we make grave mistakes, we are introspective and reforming.

America is not perfect but it is always trying to perfect itself.

Our Judeo-Christian values teach us that perfection is all but impossible but striving for perfection must always be our mission.

Yesterday we paid a small payment on a debt that cannot be repaid.

Frederick R. Giebel, Jr. (“Fritz”)
Director,
The American Legion Riders
South Jersey Chapter


“Still Serving….Still Riding”