The Wall That Heals - Fullerton Observer

Page 8 FULLERTON OBSERVER LOCAL NEWS
EARLY APRIL 2012
The Wall That Heals
by Peter Fong / photos by Bob Minor continued from frontpage
The couple hail from Iowa and applied for this paid
position three years ago. Bob with his 13 years of driving
big rigs and being retired military was a good fit for
this honorable duty. He and his wife bring the knowledge,
experience, and passion for honoring the fallen
and the reverence you would expect with this important
assignment. At every stop they are surrounded
with patriots asking about the Wall and the heart-felt
stories begin. Unique to this memorial is that the public
may view the Wall 24-hours a day as it is lighted at
night. Those who have visited the fallen in the late
evening or early morning hours swear there is spirit to
the Wall.
Bill Jenkins, retired Army, is one of the founders of
the Orange Plaza Veterans & Patriots Committee. Each
Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. they meet at the
Orange Circle to lower the American flag to taps, while
the names of the most recent casualties of Iraq or
Afghanistan are read. They have been observing this
ceremony for the past three years to honor the fallen.
“We formed the group three and a half years ago to
honor active duty military. We did not want them to be
mistreated or disrespected like the Vietnam veterans,”
stated Jenkins.
Greg and Betty Gillaspy of Yorba Linda were inspired
after viewing the Wall in the Orange Circle Plaza last
year and accepted the challenge to bring the memorial
to Tri-City Park. Along with their twenty member
committee and countless volunteers they raised the
$12,000 necessary for the Vietnam Veteran Memorial
Fund to cover expenses. According to Betty Gillaspy
the local government officials “have been nothing but
helpful in their support of the memorial.” The journey
took eleven weeks to move the memorial from
concept to reality. “It has been a labor of love, honor,
and an uplifting experience for all of us,” stated
Gillaspy.
The opening ceremony began with a fly over by
Fullerton’s Air Combat USA unit. Vietnam veteran
Greg Gillaspy gave the opening remarks “I can finally
say I’m a Vietnam vet - for 30 years this was difficult
to say.” The mixed crowd of approximately 200 civilians
and veterans gave him a warm standing ovation.
Pastor Frank Orzio gave the invocation with a very
moving and heartfelt prayer. Pastor Orzio is a
Vietnam vet who was severely wounded and awarded
the Purple Heart for bravery. He now heads up the
Wounded Warriors Ministry along with being the military
chaplain for the state. Mayor Don Schweitzer of
Brea, Mayor Pro Tem Pat McKinley of Fullerton, and
Mayor Jeremy Yamaguchi of Placentia were all on hand
and gave meaningful sentiments for the memorial and
those 41 fallen soldiers from the Tri-Cities. Mayor Pro
Tem Pat McKinley remarked “If you want to know the
true meaning of courage, just read the names of the
service men and women etched into this memorial.”
This reporter wants to give special thanks and recognition
to four active duty Army sergeants who rode
with the escorts in full camouflage. They are: Sgt.
Brendon Wilson (one tour of duty in Iraq); Staff Sgt.
Tam Nguyen (two tours of duty in Iraq); Staff Sgt.
David Martinez (two tours of duty in Iraq); and Sgt.
Michael Campbell (two tours of duty in Iraq). Sgt.
Martinez stated “I am honored and proud to ride with
fellow vets on a day to reflect on history and hear the
stories of service.” Sgt. Nguyen remarked “My parents
were Vietnam refugees a.k.a. the boat people who fled
to the United States for a better life. I enlisted to give
something back to this country which has given us so
much.” These four sergeants are now Army recruiters
stationed in Cypress, California.
For more information, you can Google “The Wall
That Heals” for tour stops and related events to honor
our veterans. For more photos of the event taken by
Bob Minor go to www.minorphotography.com
• 105,890
• 4,486
• 1,918
• 32,223
• 15,322
• $1.316
Trillion
Observer reporter
Peter Fong
(at center)
rode with the
“Wall that Heals”
300-rider
motorcycle escort
along with Ride
Captain
Wink Eller
at left and
Bill Jenkins
at right. Jenkins, a
founder of Orange
Plaza Veteran and
Patriots Committee,
also spoke
at opening
ceremonies.
All three are
Vietnam
veterans.
PHOTO
BOB MINOR
minorphotography.com
Local
Fallen Soldiers
BREA – Kenneth Dulley, Martin W. Guard,
George Stephen Hadzega, Mark Miles
FULLERTON – Thomas Campbell,
Gregory Beck, Laurence Brown, Michael
Browning, Byron Bushay, Daniel Cardenas Jr.,
Roger Carr, James Crawford, Jose DelaTorre,
Kenneth Devore, George Fazzah, Warren
Ferguson Jr., Robert Fleer, Stanley Fuller,
Stephen Gravrock, Norman Harmon, Thomas
Hawking, Joseph Hermosillo, Victor
Hernandez, Charles Kelly, Eric Kelly, Robert
Leeman, Michael McGerty, James Northern,
Ronnie Parker, Randolph Rhea, John Rick,
Robert Thompson, Dennis Thorpe, Laurence
Worthington.
PLACENTIA – Manuel Castillo, Richard
Coomer, David Gilmor, Frank Makuh,
Kenneth Perry, Robert Sheridan, Mack
Woolley Jr.
WAR COSTS in Life & Money
IN IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN
Civilians killed by Violence www.iraqbodycount.org (3/29/2012)
US Soldiers killed in Iraq: (DoD 3/10/2012)
US Soldiers killed in Afghanistan (3/29/2012) www.icasualties.org
US Soldiers wounded (DOD reports) www.icasualties.org
Iraq (3/2003 thru 3/10/2012)
Afghanistan (10/2001 thru 3/10/2012)
Cost of Wars Since 2001 www.costofwar.com (3/29/2012) (rounded
down) (Iraq $802.2 billion) (Afghanistan $514.5 billion)