The names of seven Vietnam veterans, who lived to tell their stories, were called to stand for a Quilts of Valor ceremony on the same day The Wall That Heals stood in the background with more than 58,000 names enshrined of lost lives.
People of all ages traveled from throughout the Valley to visit the wall, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, during its national tour from April 9 to 12 at Mark Coronado Park in Surprise.
The city was the fourth destination to host the free, around-the-clock exhibit plus its Mobile Education Center, before it left for Texas with stops in Del Rio from April 16 to 19 and Ranger on April 23 through 26.
Surprise is among the cities to have the wall, which has traveled to more than 800 communities across the country, and made trips to Ireland and Canada since its 1996 debut.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund operates the wall, and according to published reports, it is the only traveling exhibit associated with the Washington, D.C., memorial.
It features the largest mobile wall replica in the country, honoring the more than 3 million Americans who served in the Vietnam War.
Thanking the VVMF for choosing Surprise, Mayor Kevin Sartor stated how honored the city was to welcome The Wall That Heals and for the community to participate in the “powerful and moving tribute.”
He was among local officials and dignitaries, including Surprise Police Chief Evan Becher, who attended with his father, a U.S. Marine and Vietnam veteran.
U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego was among visitors to pay tribute to those whose names lined the wall, symbolizing “honor, remembrance, and unit.”
“We pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and service of our Vietnam veterans,” Sartor wrote on his Facebook page while the wall was in Surprise. “We also remember those who never made it home and carry their memory with us. Their service and sacrifice will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
From remembering fellow “brothers in arms,” many of whom were as young as 19, to reminiscing about the uniformed veterans who were not well-received upon returning to their hometowns, there was a range of emotions from attendees when locating and viewing the thousands of names of loved ones found on the wall.
“I am glad it came and we could go. There’s a lot veterans who live down here,” said Surprise residents Bob and Karleen Grout, adding the ease of finding their loved one’s name, thanks to VVMF for making it easy.
People were encouraged to not only read the names but reflect on the stories behind those who sacrificed to protect the country’s freedoms.
“As a kid, I always put on his uniform,” said Robert Pina, pointing to his brother’s name, Luiz Pina Jr., displayed on the wall. “I keep his memory alive. I keep his flag in my home with his picture and everything.”
The Phoenix resident, who served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, also wore a USMC hat with his brother’s name embroidered on it, showing his birth and death dates.
Cross Christian Academy Principal Ashley Duplechin accompanied 15 student and their teacher on a field trip to experience the “overall impact” felt by visiting the local exhibit. The fifth and sixth graders walked from one end of the wall to the other with paper in hand to take notes.
“We felt that this was an important experience for them,” said Duplechin, noting how overwhelming it had to be on families who lost their loved ones.
She pointed out the length of names on the wall that stretched across the wall’s panels in a span of time.
Meanwhile, across the park on April 10, the names of Vietnam veterans, Major Robert C., Major Harold H., Sr. Master Sgt. Harvey I., Sr. Chief Petty Officer Charles K., Master Sgt. Frank F., Petty Officer Second Class Richard D. and Petty Officer Third Class Thomas F. were called to receive Arizona Quilts of Valor.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a nationwide nonprofit organization with over 11,000 volunteers. Since the organization began in 2003, more than 400,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded to veterans and active duty service members.
“Today, it is our privilege to honor each of these seven veterans with a Quilt of Valor,” said Tona Jackson, the state coordinator for the organization, who was the mistress of ceremony at the awardpresentation. “Each recipient is ‘wrapped’ in a Quilt of Valor with a warm hug and a ‘welcome home’ from a grateful nation.”
After Jackson read the veterans’ bios/backgrounds, she and fellow organization heads and members ceremoniously wrapped them in their separate, handmade quilts.
Visit TheWallThatHeals.org or QOVF.org.
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Meet Delarita Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.
Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.
Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories.
Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.
Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.
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