Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial

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POW Flag Atop the White House at Last Ann Mills Griffiths, Chairman and CEO of the National League of Families, reports the POW flag has been restored to its rightful place. It had been taken down with little or no notification last summer and efforts, including by the Memorial, to find out why were unsuccessful. It was placed in a special spot on the White House grounds, but of course that's not the same. Thanks to Patrick Hughes for this photo which shows it flying once again proudly over the White House were it belongs.

The PVVM marks its 33rd year anniversary today. Dedicated October 26, 1987 ‘It is our duty to remember’

President-Elect Visits Korean War Memorial President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, visited the Korean War Memorial earlier today to place a wreath. The 82nd Airborne Division Association Hadjak-Mokan Chapter provided the color guard, with Municipal Court Chief Judge Pat Dugan and Mayor James Kenney in attendance. Biden took a break in his transitional planning to visit the Memorial on Veterans Day. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com//biden-pushes-for/2592433/

The 33rd anniversary of the dedication of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1987-2020) began with vandals breaking into the storage locker that held t...he electronics for our events. The investigation and assessment of items is on-going. Thank you to all who have reached out with their support. See more

The annual name reading of the ‘648’, sponsored by VVA Chapter 266, was well attended today. Special thanks to all of the volunteers who read a panel in honor of those on the ‘Wall’; and to Chapter 266 members who organized the event. Monday oberves the 33rd anniversary of the dedication of our beautiful memorial. 1987-2020

In recognition of all those who served, and in thanks to those who attend Veterans Day services at the Memorial each year, the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund presents the Veterans Day 2020 service. Note: Because of the pandemic, the service was filmed without an audience on November 1, 2020.

City Councilman David Oh, the only veteran on Council, will be the keynote speaker at our Veterans Day virtual ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 12:30 p.m. Because of restrictions related to the Covid virus, the ceremony will be held and filmed at a different date without an audience and then streamed on Veterans Day via our Facebook page. Participating in the ceremony will be the color guard from the 82ndnd Airborne Division Association's Hadjak-Mokan Chapter, the firing de...tail from the VVA Liberty Bell Chapter 266, Bill Mead singing the Star Spangled Banner and buglers playing taps from the Philadelphia Police Department. PVVMF will place a wreath, but there will be no formal wreath-laying ceremony. Organizations who wish to place a wreath may do so whenever they choose. Councilman Oh resigned from the District Attorney's office n 1988, to enlist in the U.S. Army. He served with the, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Army National Guard, from 1989 to 1992. He graduated from Central High School, Dickinson College and Rutgers University Law School. He was first elected as a council member at large in 2011. He is a past chairman of the Hadjak-Mokan Chapter.

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PVVM virtual ceremony today on Veterans Day at 12:30 p.m. here or on You Tube at https://youtu.be/6h2GKEnVuz0

Philadelphia Police and Veterans Color Guard Support Ceremony John Halloran of 6th District plays taps at the National POW/MIA Day observance at the Memorial on Friday. He was joined by the police firing detail and the 82nd Airborne Association Hadjak-Mokan chapter honor guard. The ceremony took place before the new National POW/MIA Monument to those from the Vietnam War. Photos by Cat Nguyen.

Channel 6 ABC coverage of National POW/MIA Day ceremony https://6abc.com/philadelphia-honors-pow-mias-with-movin//

Ten Philadelphians Still Missing in Action 1. Carlos Ashlock: MIA May 12, 1967 Carlos was previously wounded with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division in Decemb...er 1966 and returned to duty in the spring of 1967. Carlos disappeared as darkness fell after daylong combat in a valley near Que Son, Quang Nam Province. He was not found during an intensive search the following morning. Edward Bok Vocational High School 2. Herbert Kirk: MIA March 11, 1968 Herbert was part of the LIMA 85 project, a high resolution radar system for bombing missions. LIMA 85 was established in the mountains of Laos at the request of the Laotian government protected by a combination of Thailand mercenaries and Laotian tribesmen. A ground attack of the site by a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) battalion resulted in 12 MIAs including Herbert Kirk. Northeast High School 3. Wyatt Miller Jr.: MIA September 13, 1970 Wyatt was surfing in the South China Sea off the coastline just south of Danang, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. At about 5:30pm, it was reported that Wyatt fell off his surfboard and could not be found. Immediate search efforts were begun, assisted by two helicopters, but were unsuccessful. All search efforts were suspended the following day without having found a trace of Wyatt. Ben Franklin High School 4. Daniel Phillips: MIA February 7, 1968 Daniel was part of a Special Forces group in the Battle of Lang Vei near Khe Sanh. A photo of Daniel appears in the book entitled, Night of the Silver Stars, by William R. Phillips which is about the Battle of Lang Vei. Their camp had a fierce night battle with NVA regulars as their intense radio transmissions were heard by embattled Marines at nearby Khe Sanh base. The NVA regulars ultimately overran the camp. West Philadelphia High School/Milton S.Hershey School 5. Walter Pierce: MIA June 10, 1970 Walter was part of the US invasion of Cambodia with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. Walter served with the renowned Blackhorse unit which provided mechanized infantry support during the Cambodian invasion during the spring of 1970. He was reported MIA near Phu Ste Preah Cambodia during the operation. West Philadelphia High School 6. Madison Strohlein: MIA June 22, 1971 Madison was on an early morning reconnaissance mission at 300 hours when injured in a parachute jump and requested by radio an emergency medical evacuation at 730 hours. From 730 hours to 1100 hours Madison maintained radio contact until contact was broken because of enemy movement. A rescue team the following day was inserted in his vicinity. The team found Madison’s weapon and evidence of a firefight; however, they were unable to locate any other trace of Madison whereabouts. Temple University ROTC Program 7. Henry Tipping: MIA July 2, 1968 Henry served in three wars; World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Henry had flown many combat missions over both North Vietnam and South Vietnam. He was on a mission over South Vietnam when he disappeared during a flight from Danang, Quang Nam Province. Received Degrees from Florida State/Oklahoma State 8. Samuel Walker Jr.: MIA December 13, 1968 Samuel was part of aircraft crew of a C-123K dispatched from an Airfield located in northern Thailand near the border with Laos. The C-123K was on a night patrol mission of the Ho Chi Minh Trail flying at a low altitude of between 2,000-3,000 feet. During the mission, the C-123K aircraft was hit from above by another US aircraft, a B-57 called in for an air strike causing it to crash. Six aircraft crew members, including Samuel and two from the other aircraft were all MIA. Thomas Edison High School 9. William Walters: MIA May 10, 1969 William was acting as a guide man on the plume of a floating barge crane on the Saigon River. The crane to which William was attached with a safety belt was lifting 80 foot steel beams into place during a construction project. While lifting one of the beams, the crane turned and fell into the water, taking William with it. A 10 day search was unsuccessful. West Philadelphia High School 10. Robert Wells: MIA July 22, 1966 Robert and his unit were conducting a mission in Pleiku Province when they crossed a swift stream near the Ia Drang River. During the unit crossing, the safety line that Robert was using broke and he was swept away. Robert was undoubtedly weighted down by heavy gear as witnesses tried to save him. He disappeared under water without a trace, despite search efforts. Bartram High School See more

POW/MIA Ceremony will be streamed live from the POW/MIA Monument here at noon today. Friday, Sept. 18, which is national POW/MIA Day.