Touching finale missed
A touching finale was missed by TV coverage and most of those attending the memorial Monday morning in Prospect Hill Cemetary. Civil war re-enactors from Company C of the 87th Regiment, including the grandson of Col. James Stahle, who wore the original Civil War uniform of his ancestor, laid a wreath to honor Stahle. Local author, Dennis Brandt spoke as part of the ceremony. As the re-enactors formed up to march away, a Vietnam veteran approached and quietly spoke to them, then raised the ends of their tattered flag to his lips and kissed it. This from an obviously injured but proud Vet who wore an Airborne patch and Sgt. stripes on his jacket.
Unit members said the black American veteran thanked them for "freeing his people." I missed, rather didn't take, the opportunity to say thanks for that veteran's service, but here it is. Too bad his gesture wasn't recorded.
Roslyn Ream
Reading Township
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I, too, spoke to this veteran of Vietnam before the ceremony and thanked him for his service. He was airborne according to the patch on his shirt, which meant he was once as tough as they come. No more as age and infirmity - perhaps wounds - have taken hold of him. I am sorry that I missed seeing him kiss the flag. That's the true America, folks.