OPINION — For the wall to be placed, albeit temporarily, at a business parking lot is a disgrace. It stinks.
I served with several of the young men whose names are engraved in the stone of the wall. I’ve visited the wall in Washington D.C. and also when the traveling version was on display at the Utah state Capitol many years ago. I’m quite sure there are other Vietnam veterans who feel this is simply the wrong place and atmosphere for the Vietnam memorial.
Read more: Scale replica of Vietnam War Memorial returns to Southern Utah
It seems like the wall has been hijacked as a prop to draw attention to Zion Harley Davidson. It deserves to have been placed in a public place offering a more tranquil and dignified atmosphere than a motorcycle dealership.
Submitted by LARRY CAZIER, Ivins, Utah.
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Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.
Larry, why don’t you find a new location for next time if this is so distasteful ?..Zion Harley Davidson does quite a bit for the local Veterans. I do not see your point at all. there is a permanent Vietnam veterans memorial already there for local Vets on Zion Harley Davidson property, but you probably didn’t even know about that one.
I just want to say thank you for serving our country. Zion Harley Davidson does a lot of fund raising for the war hero’s sir I’m sure they were not trying to disrespect those soldiers in any way,shape or form.
That man was right.. Once I saw the wall outside the convention center on the grass..it was nice.. A parking lot of Harley davidson..is definitely an ad for the cycle shop.. Who drives up there?? It should have been in st George, even near the moral park and cemetery on Dixie dr
Who drives up there? Apparently 10,000 people did last time (https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2017/03/12/hsr-scale-replica-of-vietnam-war-memorial-returns-to-southern-utah/#.WMr6E461vM0).
Small businesses are owned by people. People care about issues (and other people, including their loved ones). They’re doing this because they care, not because they’re trying to sell another motorcycle.
If you’d like to see it stop by a specific place, make arrangements to have it stop there. Raise or donate any funds necessary.
People (even you Larry) should be pleased that someone or a place of business even attempts to bring it here. I too am a Vietnam vet and could care less where the wall is. Who drives out here to Hurricane? Anyone who would care to see it. Bet you have no problem going to Mesquite. You have no idea what Zion Harley Davidson does for vets, and fyi it is a lot.
Who ever it was complaining, needs to come down to reality. There is a way you can try to get The Wall That Heals in St George. Go talk to the City Council. You have no idea what Zion Harley Davidson does for Veterans. They have supported us all the way. Maybe you need to go up there and experience The Wall That Heals first class. It has nothing to do with sales. It has to do with Vietnam Veterans healing there mental wounds by Facing there Brothers and Sisters and Healing there war minds. I personally know 24 names on that wall from 29 months in country. It was a brutal War. The Vietnam Veterans should always be able to have the wall where they want it. They walked the walk so can talk the talk. If Zion Harley Davidson is where we want to have The Wall. Then so be it! We earned that right! Thank You VVA Chapter 961 and Thank You Zion Harley Davidson for a wonderful Week-end of Healing with our Brothers and Sisters on The Wall!
I read and acknowledge all the comments in response to my opinion. We all can agree that the Vietnam memorial wall is intensely special, particularly to Vietnam vets, no matter where it resides. And I also wanted to acknowledge Zion Harley Davidson’s support of the veterans of southern Utah. Peace
While I am saddened by the loss of so many men, when will we awaken to realize that the govt war machine is nothing more than an illegitimate oppressor. What I find most terrifying is that we are still sending our children off to die for political and monetary power.
This wall should be recycled into gravel, and in its place erected a statement that illustrates the woeful state of ignorance the people of the world remain in.
Larry,
I was a member of the group that put up the wall,worked it four three days and then went back on Sunday to take it down. Instead of complaining about where the wall was didn’t see you there to help put it up or down or talk to people who need help finding a ex buddy whose name was on the wall or a relative locate their son or brothers name. Where ever that wall goes up at a park or a parking lot that spot becomes a special place for all to gather and remember our fallen brothers.
As for Harley all of the personnel are great and worked just as hard as us if not harder to see that everything went as it was to .As for the convoy into Harley they were also honoring their fallen brothers in a way that was important to them.
As a veteran yourself Shame On You for nitpicking about where the wall was. The wall was there for people to honor the fallen not to make Harley or anyone else MONEY
Larry, Before you judge someone walk a mile in their shoes. I helped construct the ‘Wall’ and worked there for 5 days. There was nothing wrong with the location, it was in the same place 2 years ago. Wherever the “Wall’ is that is sacred ground. Harley has been an immense supporter of local #961of the VVA and we couldn’t have raised enough money to bring it here without their help. There was no commercialism or disrespect. It takes a lot of effort and fundraising to bring the ‘Wall’ to your community. Maybe you should attend our group at the Vet Center or a Vietnam Veterans of America chapter meeting. Then you would know what it takes to do something like this. How could you write what you did if you are a Vietnam vet? It’s easy to sit back, not do anything, and complain it’s not at your local park. I stick by what I said at our closing ceremony, ‘We don’t want to be glorified, just recognized.”