Departments
By Kimberly Feldkamp
Every Friday at noon, you’ll find them here. It doesn’t matter if the mercury has dipped below freezing or the sun is blazing high in the hot summer sky, they’ll be here. For a decade–520 weeks–a group of veterans and patriots have been gathering on Church Street at Monument Terrace in Lynchburg to fly their flags, show their spirit and support our troops fighting on foreign soil thousands of miles away.
“These men and women that are out here,” said Neil Bohnert, a Vietnam Veteran, gesturing to the crowd around him, “they all stand here for something, not against it.”
The crowd consists of veterans from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and now, veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Men line the curb, holding American flags that have flown in Iraq and Afghanistan; flags representing all five branches of the military and for Prisoners of War and Disabled Vets. Their colors decorate the nearby street, forcing drivers to take a second look and to honk their horns as they drive by.
There are also people gathered here, like Renee Rucker, a cheerful, friendly woman who has been wearing red, white and blue every day since the 9/11 attacks and says she’ll continue to wear the colors until all the troops come home. Marleen Lauder is another regular. She sets up a table with fresh baked goods and hot or cold beverages for everyone that comes out to show their support and patriotism.
“This is one of the most optimistic and upbeat groups of people you’ll find,” Bohnert said. “These men have given so much for their country–some are wounded and some may not have a lot of reason to be happy–but they love this country, they love the people they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with, and they’re here because of that.”
The patriotism is palpable here. Everywhere you look there is red, white and blue. There are smiling faces, folks of all ages shaking hands, patting each other on the backs, sometimes giving hugs. You can feel the camaraderie, the friendships, the unity of this place. It’s infectious.
As Bohnert talks about his experience coming out to these vigils, he can’t help but share the stories of support over the years.
“It’s really taken on a life of its own,” he said.
Bohnert remembers the Lynchburg fire and police departments that have set-up a barbeque on the corner to cook lunch for all the supporters as their way of saying “We support you, too.” He also talks about the random passerbyers who have walked up to the crowd with stacks of pizzas to feed the men who won’t let others forget.
This weekly vigil started on Friday, November 30, 2001, to counter local protestors who were against the U.S. bombing the Taliban in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks.
“That first Friday, there was a huge turnout of vets and patriots,” explained Steve Bozeman, a Vietnam Veteran and one of the organizers of the “Support our Troops” vigils. “After that first Friday, it kind of became, ‘If you come back next Friday, I’ll come back, too.’ And that was that. Ever since then, there’s always been a crowd here at noon.”
Rucker, affectionately referred to as “Miss USA,” decided this was her way of showing she wouldn’t forget 9/11.
“On the 11th, I cried as I watched those towers fall,” Rucker said. “On the 12th, I woke up mad as hell and said I was going to wear red, white and blue as a way to show my support.”
She’s still holding up her end of the bargain, though she said it’s becoming increasingly harder to find patriotic clothing.
“It’s more than just being here. It’s being with comrades who know what’s important,” Bohnert said. “It’s so important for these people to show support for this country and this nation. We’ve had people come from other states to visit, to stand with us.”
“We’ve also had mothers and fathers who have sons or daughters fighting overseas come here because there’s a sense of belonging here,” Bozeman said. “We’ve got vets with sons and grandsons who are now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan … and when those soldiers come home, they come here to say thank you for what we’re doing.”
These veterans know what it’s like to be at war. They know the suffering and the sacrifice that comes with battle. They’ve experienced the horrors and the loss and know that freedom doesn’t come free. This knowledge and shared experience is what keeps them coming back. They say they will keep it up as long as necessary to remind Central Virginia that we are at war and that our men and women are still serving proudly in the military all over the world. They know what it means to the men and women in uniform to be here.
“We’re not pro-war,” Bozeman said, referencing an article that was written a few years ago that called the veterans just that. “That really upset a lot of us, because we’re not pro-war, but we are pro-military. Those of us who have served in combat know there is a price to pay and we don’t want to send out troops into battle unnecessarily. We want our troops to know they aren’t forgotten.”
“This is just a huge morale booster for our troops,” said Bud Perry, another Vietnam Veteran, as he looks around. As the hour passes, more people have come out to join the group and show their support. “It’s the least we can do, to be here to support them.”
“People too easily forget that we are at war, that men and women are sacrificing every day for us,” Bernard “Bunny” Marks, a Vietnam veteran, said. He has a son in the Navy, who is serving in Afghanistan. “It’s a wonderful thing to be able to come down here. It’s important for our young people to know we’re here supporting them.”
“It’s key that we’re here,” said Vietnam Veteran, William Picking. “Young men come back with so much negativity; it’s so important that we’re here for them.”
“I’ve heard stories of our troops being spit on when they come home,” Rucker said, with sadness in her voice. “They are sacrificing so much–they are dying for us–and they aren’t being treated the way they deserve. People today have no idea how much our troops give for us.”
“I didn’t think the war would last this long, so I never expected we’d be here for 10 years,” Bozeman said. “But it’s been a win-win for us because we get great satisfaction out of what we do. Over the years, the different people that I’ve met … it’s been such a wonderful thing.”
Ten years is a long time, and certainly, a lot can happen in a decade. As they help others remember the troops, they too, remember those they’ve lost along the way. Bozeman says about 25 veterans and patriots have died since the vigils began on Monument Terrace, some from cancer or various illnesses, others simply of old age.
Bozeman remembers two of them specifically, and though the men physically aren’t here every Friday, a piece of them remains a part of these Friday rituals. At the bottom of the Monument Terrace steps, Bozeman points out the “Soldier’s Cross” which represents the fallen and their ultimate sacrifice. This was left behind by World War II Veteran, Dan Weigand. The “Soldier’s Cross” is a pair of Weigand’s WWII combat boots and his helmet on top of a 105 Howitzer brass shell.
Next to the “Soldier’s Cross” stands a Navy Bell, left behind by Kenneth “Hoppy” Hopkins, another World War II vet. Hopkins, a regular at the Friday vigils, died in early 2009. The group rings the bell every Friday at the end of the one-hour vigil, not only to honor Hoppy, but to honor all of those who have gone before and after. The bell is rung eight times, signifying the end of watch. That’s when everyone is called to attention to salute as the National Anthem is played.
When the National Anthem is over, the men roll up their flags and start to slowly make their way back to their cars, back to the rest of their day. But they’ll be back next week, rain or shine, to make sure no one forgets the men and women fighting overseas, defending the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Support the troops, and the veterans at Monument Terrace, online by “Liking” their Facebook page, Monument Terrace Troop Rally.
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