The Moving Wall in Medford, NJ - A Memorial Tribute
In June of 2006 VVA 899 was the Hosting VVA Chapter of the Moving Wall event in Medford Township New Jersey, our
Thanks to all those who contributed and the Community of Medford for being True Patriots.
"Dust Off" Medivac Unit
In Memory of Stephen J. Saluga, III, 82D Med. Det. - 19 Oct 68
Saluga Memorial Video
Hosting VVA Chapter 899 slide show
VVA 899 Members sit
on our New Bench at Freedom Park, Medford, NJ Back to front, Michael & Richard, Lynn, Curt, Don 1, Don 2.
THE
MOVING WALL, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. arrives by motorcade at Freedom Park
in Medford on Tuesday. The memorial will be open to visitors until noon on Monday.
MEDFORD-The Moving
Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., arrived at Freedom Park here Tuesday night
amid much pomp and circumstance and escorted by a motorcade of about 250 motorcycles driven by police, veterans and Patriot
Guard riders. On Wednesday, volunteers worked to install the wall, which is made
of 252 feet of aluminum panels and contains the names of 58,249 soldiers killed during the Vietnam War from 1959-75. It
will stand at Freedom Park, in an area toward the front of the park's entrance off Union Street that has recently been
paved, landscaped and had lights and flagpoles installed, until it is removed on Monday, June 19. "Medford
Township is very honored to be hosting The Moving Wall," said Mayor Lisa Post at a flag-raising ceremony in preparation
for the memorial's arrival on Tuesday. "(The wall) serves as a reminder that liberty and democracy carry a heavy
price." The flag that will fly over the memorial during its stay in Medford
was presented by an aide for Congressman H. James Saxton and has flown over the United States Capitol. An
opening ceremony, complete with an Air Force flyover, was held at 7 p.m. last night. The Moving Wall will be open to visitors
and manned by volunteers 24 hours a day into Monday. Nightly ceremonies will be held
at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday nights. A closing ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The memorial will remain
open until noon on Monday. "It was a touching display of loyalty and love,"
Post said of the wall's arrival by motorcade on Tuesday, which was greeted by a township fire truck that flew a huge American
flag and made its way through the circular driveway of Freedom Park watched by onlookers and township officials. "All
these riders are dedicated to honoring their fellow soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, and whose names
are etched on the memorial. It is an emotional tribute." Indeed, two members
of the Vietnam Veterans of America's West Central District, Michael Engi and Rich Linneman, who had the honor of raising
the flag at the memorial on Tuesday, were eloquent when speaking of the importance, and emotions associated, with such a tribute. "You always back your soldiers no matter what," said Engi, who served in Vietnam
from 1969-70. "They just answer the call to duty." "Our mission is
to represent the people (whose names) are on the wall. It's an honor for us to be asked to be the host chapter." Engi and Linneman said chapter members will serve as volunteers throughout The Moving
Wall's stay in Medford, helping loved ones who want to make etchings of names on the memorial, providing information and
just being there to talk if anyone so desires. Linneman, who served in Vietnam from
1968-69, is scheduled to talk with groups of students who visit the memorial. Both
veterans said ceremonies Tuesday were emotional for them and that memories from the war are still strong in their minds. Engi said he lost a personal friend, Barry Manthey of Columbus, and the brother - Joseph
Thorn of Bordentown - of one of his close friends. Linneman said the wall contains
the names of 27 soldiers who attended his high school and 73 who he served with. For
the Saluga family, who lost a son, brother, husband and loved one when 21-year-old Stephen III was killed in Vietnam on Oct.
19, 1968, "the memory and the hurt is difficult," said Salvatore Saluga, Stephen's brother. Stephen is one of
two Medford soldiers whose name is contained on the wall. Kenneth DeMore Jr. died at age 19 on Dec. 12, 1969 in Hue, South
Vietnam. "It's so hard to describe, over 38 years since my brother died,
how it (pain) never goes away," said Salvatore, who was 2 when his brother was killed and knows of his brother from accounts
and research. Saluga's mother, Sophia, his sisters, Rosemary, and Susanna, brother
Tom, and widow Sue attended Tuesday's ceremonies along with Salvatore and his children. "People
will cry, I know they will, it is so stark," Sophia said of the memorial. Susanna
recited memories of her brother carrying her on his shoulders and washing his car and the family brought mementos of Saluga's
life, including his three Purple Hearts. Salvatore also noted that on the day Stephen
was killed, he was scheduled to come home from Vietnam within 40 days and had even been given a "going home" party
by fellow soldiers. Chief of the 82nd Medical Detachment, 44th Brigade Helicopter
Ambulance "dust off" crew, Saluga was flying on an operation on Oct. 19, 1968 with a crew that had just picked up
wounded soldiers at the Bassac River Delta and transported them to a hospital, but upon returning to get more soldiers, the
helicopter malfunctioned and crashed, killing those on board. The Saluga family intends
to honor his memory when visiting The Moving Wall this week. The Moving Wall was
completed in October 1984, two years after The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated. Of the 58,249
names on the memorial, which are arranged in chronological order of the year of death, 1,560
are from New Jersey and 81 from Burlington County. Any mementos left at The Moving
Wall that are not perishable will be sent to a museum in Washington, D.C., township officials said. The Medford stop marks
the fifth time The Moving Wall has stood in New Jersey. For information on parking
or shuttle bus service, contact the Medford Recreation Department at (609) 654-2512.
“THE MOVING
WALL”
VIETNAM
VETERANS MEMORIAL
OPENING
CEREMONY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2006 -- 7:00 P.M.
*
Fly Over United States Air Force – McGuire
AFB, NJ
* Prelude Music
“For The Fallen” and “God Bless America” – Greater South Jersey Chorus
“The Flowers of the Forest”on Bag Pipes – Curt Anderson,
1st Vice President, Vietnam Veterans of America-NJ Chapter #899
* Presentation of Colors Color Guard Unit – 78th Division, Training Support Brigade – Fort Dix, NJ
*
Pledge of Allegiance
Led by Vietnam
Veterans of America-NJ Chapter #899 of Bordentown
* National Anthem “The Star Spangled Banner” - Greater South Jersey Chorus
* Invocation Rev. Jack Koslowsky
– Chaplain, Medford Police & Fire Departments
* Welcome & Introductions *The Honorable Lisa A. Post, Mayor-Township
of Medford
Captain,
USAR-Retired *Tom Lamaine - Master of Ceremonies Meteorologist/Broadcaster-CBS 3, Navy Pilot and
Vietnam Veteran, and member of Burlington County Military Affairs Committee
* A Time of Tribute - Guest Speakers *Major General David S. Gray, Air Mobility Warfare Center, Fort Dix, NJ
*William Devereaux, Program Coordinator, NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
(representing Governor Jon Corzine and General Glen K. Reith, NJ Adjutant General)
*Salvatore Saluga, representing the family of Stephen J. Saluga, III of Medford
*Robert Frey, representing the family of Kenneth E. DeMore of Medford
* Laying of Memorial Wreaths and Dedication
of Plaque Commemorating “Moving Wall” Display
Medford Township Council with Saluga & DeMore families.
*
Reading – “A Message From The Other Side of the Wall”
Michael Engi, President –Vietnam Veterans of America-NJ Chapter #899
“The
Minstrel Boy” on Bag Pipes – Curt Anderson, Vietnam Veterans of America-NJ Chapter #899
* Laying of POW/MIA Wreath - POW/MIA Service
Vietnam Veterans of America-NJ Chapter #899
* Reading – “Oh,
How I Lament” 1st Place, Vietnam Poetry Contest at Seneca High School
Michael Hartman of Shamong, Sophomore
* Medford Methodist Church Bell Choir performance
“America the Beautiful,” “Song
of Remembrance,” “Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace,” and
“Let There be Peace on Earth.”
* Reading of Names, Tolling of Bells and Placement of Flags for 81 Lost Veterans
from Burlington County Burlington County Freeholder
Deputy Director William S. Haines, Jr. and County Clerk Philip E. Haines. Flags placed by the Junior ROTC Corps from Burlington
City High School.
* Benediction Rev. Jack Koslowsky
*
Honor The Dead - Taps
Bugler - Conner Alan Gray, SRA – McGuire AFB, NJ
* Retiring of the Colors - Music & Bag Pipes
Color Guard Unit – 78th Division, Training Support Brigade – Fort Dix, NJ
“Sea to Shining Sea” – Greater South Jersey Chorus
“The Fields of Athenry” on Bag Pipes – Curt Anderson, Vietnam Veterans of A merica-
NJ Chapter #899
The Moving Wall Planning Committee
Lisa A. Post, Mayor (Co-chair)
Beth Richmond, Recreation Director (Co-chair)
Walter Urban, Township Council
Michael Achey, Acting Township Manager
James Kehoe, Acting Director of Public Safety and Chief of
Police
George Snyder, Public Works Superintendent
Dottie Spellman, Recreation Advisory Board
Dave Wyche, Burlington County Public Information
Sam Podietz, Burlington County Military & Veteran Affairs
William Scarlott, Burlington County Transportation
Kryn Westhaven, NJ
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Michael Engi, President, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 899-Bordentown
Donald Mohr, Treasurer, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter
899-Bordentown
Darryll Johnson, US
Dept. of Veteran Affairs
Rawle Gaskin, US Dept. of Veteran Affairs
The Moving Wall Planning Committee
Lisa A. Post, Mayor (Co-chair)
Beth Richmond, Recreation Director (Co-chair)
Walter Urban, Township Council
Michael Achey, Acting Township Manager
James Kehoe, Acting Director of Public Safety and Chief of
Police
George Snyder, Public Works Superintendent
Dottie Spellman, Recreation Advisory Board
Dave Wyche, Burlington County Public Information
Sam Podietz, Burlington County Military & Veteran Affairs
William Scarlott, Burlington County Transportation
Kryn Westhaven, NJ
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Michael Engi, President, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 899-Bordentown
Donald Mohr, Treasurer, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter
899-Bordentown
Darryll Johnson, US
Dept. of Veteran Affairs
Rawle Gaskin, US Dept. of Veteran Affairs
Visitor's came to Wall at all hours of the night and we were there for them.
I saw some visitors day and night, some came back again for days at a time.
Visitors took rubbings of name on the Wall
Working all night long finding names on Wall for families in shifts.
Debbieeee, look at Louie! He's working!
That's it Lynn bend over a little, make it look good!
VVA 899's Memorial Wreath at the Wall was made by Betty Kleber, AVVA Rep.
The Moving Wall, Medford Township, New Jersey 2006
Painting by Diane Wallace, Artist, Medford, New Jersey
