By Ian Graham Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2010 – This week, the names of six American servicemembers will join the list of other departed or missing troops featured on the intersecting black-granite walls of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Expert stoneworker James Lee cleans the work after engraving the name of U.S. Army Lt. Col. Taylor to Panel 7W, Line 81 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 4, 2010. Taylor's name is one of six added to the memorial. The new names represent veterans who survived serious injury in the war, but were determined by Defense Department officials to have died as a result of wounds sustained in the combat zone. DoD photo by William D. Moss (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
Army Lt. Col. William Taylor’s name was engraved at a ceremony today at the memorial on the National Mall here. The names of Marine Corps Lance Cpls. John Granville and Clayton Hough Jr., Marine Corps Cpl. Ronald Vivona, Army Capt. Edward Miles and Army Sgt. Michael Morehouse will be added later this week.
The new additions are veterans who survived serious injury in the war but were determined by Defense Department officials to have “died as a result of wounds [combat or hostile related] sustained in the combat zone” that required drastic measures, such as amputation.
“It’s an important honor to pay tribute to our nation’s veterans – of Vietnam, especially,” said J.C. Cummings, the architect of record for the memorial. The main part of the memorial was completed in 1982.
Cummings said a space on the wall allows Taylor’s name to fit the chronological scheme as if his name had been in the database of fallen soldiers when the wall was first built. Of the six names being added to the wall this week, three of them can be placed as such, he said.
“When these young men were over there, their units became a family, a military family,” Cummings said. “We’re lucky because we can put the name where it belongs, with their brothers and sisters in arms.”
Taylor’s nephew, Thomas Carpenter, was in attendance today, along with family members of the five other servicemembers whose names are being added to the wall. Photos of each man were shown as each family gave a small tribute to their lost relative.
“I’m humbled in front of this wall,” Carpenter said, “where they are forever young, strong and brave.”
James Lee, a stoneworker whose Colorado-based company has worked at the wall since 1987, said each name takes at least a few days to prepare. Multiple test stones are used to ensure the newly engraved names match the older ones in shape, size and depth.
“Every name that we add to the memorial further completes it,” he said.
The engravings for 11 other servicemembers, from the Army and Air Force, will be modified to reflect that they’re no longer considered missing in action.
The changes will bring the total number of names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to 58,267 men and women who were killed or remain missing in action. The six new names will become official when they are read aloud during the annual Memorial Day ceremony May 31 at 1 p.m.
The name of William L. Taylor, who served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, is one of six names being added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., May 4, 2010. The new names represent veterans who survived serious injury in the war, but were determined by Defense Department officials to have died as a result of wounds sustained in the combat zone. DoD photo by William D. Moss
The Colorado Springs man who designed the black and white POW/MIA flag flown everywhere from federal buildings to Harley-Davidson fenders died Thursday at his home.
Newt Heisley was 88.
"Newt wanted no hoopla. All he wants is a celebration," his fiancee, Donna R. Allison, said.
That's what he'll get on Flag Day, June 14, from 1-4 p.m. at the American Legion Post 38 in Security. The public is invited. He will be entombed at Shrine of Remembrance next to his wife of 61 years, Margaret "Bunny", who died in 2005.
The prolific image he sketched in pencil in 1971 has the silhouette of a man under a guard tower and behind barbed wire. It's a symbolic reminder that not every soldier returned from the war in Vietnam.
The flag flew over the White House when President Ronald Reagan marked the first POW/MIA Recognition Day. Biker groups adopted the flag, tattooing the image on their bodies, patching it on jackets and flying it from their bumpers.
Newt Heisley sported the image on his hat, lapel and license plate.
"Everyone knew it was Newt's flag," Allison said. "He would personally sign them for people, that's what he would do for years."
He never dreamed it would be a national icon. He was simply "the ad guy" around town.
"He was just working for an ad agency. He came up with the rendition of the flag," said his son, James Heisley. "At first he was almost embarrassed, but he got kind of used to it. It defined his life."
Newt Heisley was proud of what the flag meant. He was a C-46 transport pilot in World War II in the Pacific.
"It was typical to present it in black-and-white and his idea was to go back and do some color," James Heisley said. "They came and looked at it and said, ‘That's it.'"
Newt Heisley worked in advertising for 25 years in big Manhattan agencies before moving to Colorado Springs to start an his own advertising firm.
"He decided there had to be greener pastures," James Heisley said. "He almost took a job in Bermuda, but my mom was a little leery of living on an island. They said, ‘Let's head West and see what we can see.' They were on the way to California and pulled into a hotel room in Colorado Springs in the dark. In the morning he saw Pikes Peak and said, ‘Bunny, we aren't going any further.'"
He retired from Heisley Design and Advertising in 1987.
"He didn't expect to get any recognition. If he had a nickel for every time that image appeared, he and I'd be multi-multi millionaires," James Heisley said. "Newt always said it was better as public image."
He also is survived by another son, Jeffrey N., who modeled for the silhouette on the flag; daughters-in-law Susan Heisley and Deborah Heisley; and granddaughter Sara Heisley.
March 18, 2009
White House Drops Plan to Bill Disabled Veterans’ Insurance for Care
WASHINGTON, March 18—The Disabled American Veterans today commended the Obama administration for backing down from a controversial proposal that would force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who suffered service-related disabilities and injuries.
The proposal that had been considered as part of the president’s budget would require private insurance companies to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs in such cases. But the idea was unanimously opposed by the DAV and other leaders of the veterans community who were invited to the White House Monday to discuss the plan directly with President Obama. Veterans were again united in opposing the plan in a follow-up meeting with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel Wednesday.
The decision to drop the idea was announced by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at a meeting with veterans groups after the meeting with Emanuel.
“The president was very open and candid when he met with veterans groups earlier this week, and we are pleased that he has heard our concerns and taken them to heart,” said Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. “Our message to the president was simple and direct: that our government must not abandon its moral responsibility to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms.” “Now that this ill-advised proposal is off the table, the DAV looks forward to working with the administration and Congress on crafting a good budget that will include sufficient appropriated dollars to cover veterans’ health care needs,” Gorman said. “We also urge the president to fulfill his pledge to include advance appropriations for veterans health care in his budget submission.”
A top priority for the DAV and other groups is passage of the recently introduced Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act. The measure would authorize Congress to approve VA medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. The legislation also would add needed transparency to the process by having the Government Accountability Office review and report on the VA budget request.
“This budget reform legislation would ensure sufficient, timely and predictable funding for veterans’ health care. It has the added benefit of making government more efficient, transparent and accountable. These are three key elements that President Obama, Congress and veterans all agree are needed in these challenging times. And if enacted in conjunction with the fiscal year 2010 budget, advance appropriations for 2011 would not add one dime to the 2010 deficit,” Gorman said.
The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization’s Web site, www.dav.org
February 29, 2008 New Clinton County, NY exemption covers those who served during Cold War County grants veterans tax exemption.
Clinton County legislators have approved a tax exemption for Cold War veterans. Cold War veterans are defined as those who served in the U.S. military from 1945 to 1991. The local law will give them a 10-percent exemption off their property assessment for 10 years. It applies to county taxes on primary residences only. The maximum exemption will not exceed $8,000. The law was offered to cover veterans who are not eligible for war-time-veteran tax exemptions. Clinton County Veterans Services Agency Director Steven Bowman said the state offered the Cold War exemption so all veterans will be covered. Legislators unanimously approved the exemption. The exemption will help Cold War veterans, many of whom are now older and living on fixed incomes. Municipalities throughout the county have the option of approving the Cold War exemption for local taxes.
Veterans wishing to apply for the Cold War exemption can visit the Veterans Services Agency office in the County Government Building on Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY.
Copies of their property deed and discharge papers are needed.
U.S. and China Sign POW and MIA Arrangement
U.S. and Chinese officials signed a document Friday morning in Shanghai, China to formalize research in Chinese archives on Korean War POW/MIA matters.
Ambassador Charles A. Ray, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs, signed the arrangement with Maj. Gen. Qian Li Hua, of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense.
The arrangement outlines expected cooperation between the U.S. and China in researching the archives, which may shed light on Americans who were missing in action or held as prisoners of war in camps managed by the Chinese.
In seeking to account for the approximately 8,100 servicemen missing from the Korean War, the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office has sought access to these archives for more than a decade.
The cooperation of the Chinese people and government has led to the recovery of the remains of Americans lost in the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Korean War and World War II. This joint archival effort is expected to open more avenues of research to enable U.S. analysts to narrow their searches for the specific locations where American remains may be buried.
The signing ceremony took place in the same Shanghai hotel where President Richard Nixon and Premier Cho En-lai signed their historic communiqué in 1972.
The American's Creed
William Tyler Page
“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Written by Francis Bellemy
Serviceman's Prayer " Lord, I may not believe in everything my government has asked me to fight for. But, they asked me to do it! I am here for the honor of my Country! I pray for my family, my safety and most of all, for the U.S.A.!
See me through another night to fight another day! Amen "
POW MIA Prayer
"Father Your own Son was a Prisoner. Condemned, He died for us, Victorious, He returned to bring us the gift of life everlasting. Comfort us now in our longing for the return of the Prisoners Of War and those Missing In Action. Help Us Father, inspire us to remove the obstacles. Give courage to those who know the truth to speak out. Grant wisdom to the negotiators, and compassion to the jailors. Inspire the media to speak out as loudly as they have in the past. Protect those who seek in secret and help them to succeed, Show us the tools to do your will, Guard and bless those in captivity, their families, and those who work for their release. Let them come home soon.
Thank You Father." AMEN
In 1971, Mrs. Mary Hoff, an MIA wife and member of the National League of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs. The flag is black, bearing in the center, in black and white, the emblem of the League. The emblem is a white disk bearing in black silhouette the bust of a man, watch tower with a guard holding a rifle, and a strand of barbed wire; above the disk are the white letters POW and MIA framing a white 5-pointed star; below the disk is a black and white wreath above the white motto:
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
The flag has been altered many times; the colors have been switched from black with white - to red, white and blue, - to white with black; the POW/MIA has at times been revised to MIA/POW.
On March 9,1989, a POW/MIA Flag, which flew over the White House on the 1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day, was installed in the United States Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th session of Congress. The leadership of both Houses hosted the installation ceremony in a demonstration of bipartisan congressional support. This POW/MIA Flag, the only flag displayed in the United States Capitol Rotunda, stands as a powerful symbol of our national commitment to our POW/MIAs until the fullest possible accounting for Americans still missing in Southeast Asia has been achieved.
On August 10,1990, the 101st Congress passes U.S. Public Law 101-355, recognizing the National League of Families POW/MIA Flag and designating it "as a symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. Thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation." Beyond Southeast Asia, it has been a symbol for POW/MIAs from all American Wars.
With the passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act during the first term of the 105th Congress, the..... 'POW/MIA Flag' will fly each year on:
Armed Forces Day - Third Saturday in May Memorial Day - Last Monday in May Flag Day - June 14 Independence Day - July 4 National POW/MIA Recognition Day - Third Friday in September Veterans Day - November 11
The POW/MIA Flag will be flown on the grounds or the public lobbies of major military installations as designated by the Secretary of Defense, all Federal National Cemeteries, the National Korean War Veterans Memorial, the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House, the United States Post Offices and at official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and Veteran's Affairs, and Director of the Selective Service System. Civilians are free to fly the POW/MIA Flag whenever they wish.
The Robert A LaFountain Chapter 179, Disabled American Veterans of Plattsburgh dedicated the Plattsburgh Barracks Veterans Park on September 8th. The park is located on the U.S. Oval and displays a flag for all Military Branches and Veterans Organizations (13 flags). The Park is a tribute to all veterans who served this nation from the Battles of the Revolutionary War to Present.
On each side of a large stone there are Memorial Walls and on the walls, engraved bricks will be placed in memory of veterans. The bricks will have 3 lines of print with up to 13 characters per line, and we are asking for a donation of $50.00 for each brick. This money will be used to purchase trees, shrubs, flowers and the remaining funds will be in escrow to maintain the Memorial Park.
Site is in Memory of Dad Sep 23, 2006 Mathew KIA Taji Iraq May 25, 2007 Website Logo Property of Motorcyclenewengland.com thanks to Rochelle. Image not to be used without prior written permission
