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Dear Editor:
On Saturday, May 16, I was privileged to volunteer, along with my husband Bruce, to place flags at the veterans’ graves in Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville. I became aware of the opportunity through our Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter. It was a beautiful day, which may have encouraged the many people who turned out to help.
This event was sponsored by the VFW Noblesville Post # 6246 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They provided the flags and were on hand to direct the volunteers. I cannot thank them enough; we are blessed to have so many veterans and patriots here in Hamilton County.
As I was walking the cemetery looking for the veterans’ gravesites, which are usually marked on their headstones with the branch of their service, I was surprised to see so many indicating veterans of the Vietnam War. This is the War that I most recall, as I was born in 1950 so came of age in the tumult of that conflict. Of course, many of those who have passed did so during that War (nearly 60,000) but many of those veterans who did not die as a result of conflict have succumbed too soon as well – from diseases of the body and mind incurred from that tour of duty.
What occurred to me this past Saturday while placing those flags is this: While nearly 60,000 young soldiers died during the Vietnam War, we have lost at least 90,000 in just a few months from this virus war. What took several years during the Vietnam War has happened currently at lightning speed. The toll on the families left behind, just as in time of war, is incalculable.
It seems that the older folks who have served in WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam are most at risk – the most brave and patriotic among us. As we contemplate that, let’s all do our part. Sacrifice was widely accepted during the years of WWII; can we not at least practice common sense now during this virus war? Can we each do our part? I certainly hope so.
Sharon McMahon
Regent, Horseshoe Prairie Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution