Freedom Is Not Free - Korean War Veterans Association

Veterans Are Veterans, Regardless Of “Their” Wars
As many of you know, there was a “major” anti-Iraq War
demonstration held in Washington D.C. and other locations
worldwide on Saturday, March 17, 2007. This time, veterans
from different wars and all branches of the armed
forces gathered in Washington to make sure none of the protestors
damaged the numerous memorials on the Mall and
elsewhere. Lou Dechert was one of them.
President Dechert filed this report from Washington at the
end of the day. Certainly, it demonstrates that veterans are
veterans, regardless of which war they fought in or with
which branch of the service. In their eyes, no war will be forgotten
or degraded, nor will the monuments and memorials to
their efforts.
GATHERING OF EAGLES ON THE MALL,
WASHINGTON, DC
PINEVILLE, LA, MARCH 17, 2007, KWVA: The local
media, regardless of where “local” is in the US, covered the
protestors in Washington today and ignored those opposing
them.
The patriotic veterans assembled in accordance with the
overall coordination of the Gathering of Eagles Organization
(www.gatheringofeagles.org). A large contingent of veterans
who had received the Purple Heart for combat wounds
attended with the veteran’s organization, the Military Order
of the Purple Heart of the USA. Many in this group belong to
the MOPH as well as numerous other veterans’ organizations.
The National President of the Korean War Veterans
Association, Louis T Dechert, Joseph P Genduso, a Regional
MOPH Vice National Commander and member of the
KWVA, and Billy J Scott, KWVA member from Boyce,
Virginia, maintained watch over the Korean War Veterans
Memorial and greeted an unusually large number of visitors
for over half a day. They assisted the US park rangers, police
officers, and a husband and wife veteran couple, Gayle and
Vicki Bovee, of Edinburg,Virginia, who were also on guard.
Gayle is a Special Forces Warrior from the Vietnam War.
Dechert, for one, said when it was over that he had only
been so cold once before—in Korea! No incidents happened
at the Korean Memorial and many new commitments were
made to Korea veterans.
After the event ended, Dechert and the Bovees exchanged
these emails:
Dear Gayle and Vicki:
You all were more than BRAVE to stick it out in the cold.
God bless you for helping and inspiring us to buck the weather
as well.
It was great to meet you and will not be forgotten.
Lou Dechert
Poems written by Gayle “Beau” Bovee can be
found on page 51
From: Vicki Bovee
Subject: March 17, 2007 Gathering of Eagles Rally
Dear Sir,
I would like to take this opportunity to send a solemn
“THANK YOU!” to you and the other Korean War Veterans for
allowing my wife (Vicki) and I to stand with you yesterday, the
17th, at the Korean War Memorial. It was both an honor and a
privilege!
Although originally, we traveled to Washington, D.C. to stand
silent guard over the Vietnam War Memorial to protect it from
being desecrated by the anti-war protestors, we knew in our
hearts where we’d take our post and stand. The ones who went
before us deserved the respect, honor and dignity earned
through their unselfish sacrifice and bravery for us. Though
seeing that you standing at your memorial were few, you were
mighty in spirit! My wife and I have discussed it, both on the
ride home and afterwards, and are glad at the opportunity to
give back something to you and your fellow veterans. If not for
you and your fellow vets’ sacrifices, we know we would not
have had the freedoms, nor the opportunity to say “THANK
YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US!” which we were able
to do yesterday.
Yours may be the “forgotten war” in some minds, but it will
remain forever “remembered” in my wife’s and mine. We had
an opportunity to meet some of the bravest, honorable men
that have walked “God’s” green earth. We learned much from
you and your fellow Korean vets yesterday, things that are not
known or taught in schools today. You can fill volumes with
what you don’t know or learn from the people that should teach
such things!
Thank you for giving us the Korean War Veteran Association
pins. They will hold a special place in our hearts forever. Thank
you for giving one to us to send to my wife’s “Uncle John.“ It
will mean a great deal to him! My wife and I had an opportunity
to meet men that made history and prepared the way for us,
and we walked away with new friends and fond memories!
In closing, I would like to “THANK YOU AND YOUR FELLOW
KOREAN WAR VETERANS FOR GIVING US A PLACE OF HONOR
AT THE KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL AND ALLOWING US TO
STAND WITH YOU ALL AND GUARD IT FROM THOSE THAT
WOULD HARM IT!”
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
Gayle “Beau” Bovee
Vicki Lee Bovee
112 Windsor Knit Road
Edinburg, VA 22824
PS. I have attached a few poems I have written. If you
can use them, distribute them to our soldiers, or however you
may choose to use them. If you can, you do so with my best
wishes and with my full authority! When we move to
California, we will send our new address so that we can keep
in touch.
“THANK YOU KOREAN WAR VETERANS!”
27
The Graybeards
March – April 2007