Honoring America's Warriors
If you are a Vietnam veteran and can't travel to Washington, D.C. be on the lookout in your town for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, aka the portable Vietnam Wall Memorial. Recently it came to my town, Payson, Arizona and it was very well done. I have not had the honor of seeing the real thing in our nation's capital (I will someday) but this memorial was very moving. I found two USMC buddies who gave their lives and I took a moment to remember each one of them.
American Veterans Traveling Tribute is a group of veteran owners who are committed to traveling the USA to honor, respect, and remember those who served, in particular those who gave all. This mission also insures that all will honor and respect those who have served our country and those that serve now.
The AVTT can be viewed online at www.avtt.org They fulfill their mission statement by presenting the "Cost of Freedom" tribute and exhibits consisting of: The centerpiece: An 80% size replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. All the names of those who gave their lives are on it. It is 370 feet long and 8.5 feet tall at the apex. It is the largest traveling wall replica in the US. In addition to the wall is the Gold Dog Tag Memorial - recording all the names of servicemen and women who gave their lives in the service to their country since the Vietnam War, 911 Memorials and other exhibits like the Walk of Hero's World War II and Korean memorials.
It was emotional for me because I lost two dear friends from my hometown of St. Louis, Mo. I was able to find them on the wall thanks to the helpful staff of AVTT and rub their names on the casualty sheet that lists their name, Panel # and Line #. In case you can't read the small print, "In honor of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in the Vietnam War. The names of those who gave their lives and those who remain missing are inscribed in the order they were taken from us."
In memoriam: Reavis A. Montrey Jr, USMC, Home of record: Ferguson, Missouri. Died of enemy small arms fire on 11/16/65 in the vicinity of Quang Nam, South Vietnam. Age 19.
In Memoriam: Victor J. Cartier, USMC, Home of Record, Webster Groves, Missouri. Died as a result of an enemy explosive device (mine) on 4/8/69 in the vicinity of Quang Nam, South Vietnam. Age 19
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June 15th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Thank you for remembering my brother Vic Cartier. It's good to know he's not forgotten. He was a great guy and a damn good marine. For the last 35 years on Memorial Day weekend, family and friends have met at his grave site to share a few beers and stories. I went to the Wall for the first time this May and though he's been dead for almost 40 years, the tragedy of his death came fresh seeing his engraved name amongst so many others. I've had the opportunity to connect with quite a few of his marine buddies and realize what impact he had in his short life. Thank you again for his mention.