Local veterans gather for a photo at the plaque bearing the 68 names of Alexandrians who were killed in the Vietnam War during a dedication ceremony May 27 at the city’s Union Station.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 609 and American Legion Post 24, in partnership with the Office of Historic Alexandria, memorialized Alexandrians who lost their lives in the Vietnam War with a plaque dedication ceremony on Memorial Day, May 27.
The plaque bearing the 68 names of Alexandrians killed or missing in action in the Vietnam War was installed at the city's Monument to the War Dead, located in front of Alexandria’s Union Station on Callahan Drive.
Civil Air Patrol Cadet Zoey Carlos of the Johns Hopkins School of Music sings the National Anthem to open the May 27 dedication ceremony honoring Alexandria soldiers killed in the Vietnam War.
“We must honor the bravery and sacrifice of our Vietnam War Veterans,” said director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, Gretchen Bulova. “These new plaques serve as a permanent reminder of their service and our gratitude.”
In addition to Bulova, Mayor Justin Wilson led a contingent of city officials, who joined members of VFW Post 609, American Legion Post 24 and members of other local Veterans Service Organizations in re-dedicating the 1940 Monument to the City’s War Dead.
“Memorial Day is a day of national recognition to recognize and honor those military personnel who, in defense of our nation and its values, gave the ultimate sacrifice in war,” said VFW Post 609 Commander Col. Gerald Krueger (ret). “Today we are here to rededicate our City of Alexandria’s 1940 Monument to the City’s War Dead from all Wars and to dedicate a plaque honoring the 68 Alexandrians who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.”
The Monument to the City’s War Dead was originally dedicated on Veterans Day in 1940.
Krueger and Bulova worked together in leading the campaign to fund the placement of the plaque at the Alexandria War Memorial. A second duplicate Vietnam War Veteran name plaque will be dedicated on the wall of the Gadsby’s Tavern building at 400 Cameron Street on June 14 (Flag Day) at 6 p.m.
The coalition of VSO organizations will continue to raise funds with plans to place plaques honoring Alexandria’s fallen soldiers from World War II and the Korean War.
“We honor all those who deferred their dreams and answered the call to fight and win America’s wars,” Krueger said. “Let us remember the bonds we still have with the military personnel who have gone before us, who selflessly served our country and paid the ultimate price. And so it is that we honor today these 68 Alexandria heroes by placing their names in perpetuity on this memorial plaque as a tribute to them.”