This is a story of patriotism and dedication by a group of Veterans who decided to show support to our troops serving around the world.  It began more than eight years ago when a group, I chose to call the "peace-nics", decided to protest the USA's military involvement in Iraq.  It was personal for me as I have a Marine Grandson who has done multiple tours.  They chose to demonstrate on a Friday downtown at Monument Terrace.  Monument Terrace is considered to be sacred ground to most Veterans.  It is where Lynchburg Honors its Veterans dating back more than one hundred and fifty years.  Needless to say we were incensed that they would chose a place dedicated to honoring those who made the supreme sacrifice.  Those who died fighting for liberty and their right to protest.

 

The following Friday, a group of Marines from the MCL 759 Detachment in Lynchburg, led by Sgt. Steve Bozeman, a Viet Nam Veteran, mustered at Monument Terrace with our flags waving and proceeded to out demonstrate the demonstrators!   After a few weeks of this they decided to call it quits.  They were no match for our Veterans.  Thus began the story and the legacy of our weekly "Support Our Troops Vigil" 

 

Steve Bozeman is a Marines Marine by any measure.  He is the recipient of two Purple Hearts from his service in Viet Nam; a charter member of our MCL 759 Detachment; a certified "hard charger" if a Marine is in need or you want something done.  He is the Marine you always see in the Marine Corps Marathon running with the American Flag!  He is also very active in several other Veterans organizations.

 

This past Friday, December 4th, was the 418th CONSECUTIVE Friday that our Veterans have been there to honor our troops and show our support for those wonderful men and women serving worldwide in our Military services.  We have not missed a Friday in over eight years!  We have been there through rain, sleet, snow and some scorching hot days and we intend to be there until our deployed troops come home.   We have Veterans from every branch of service and all hoist a flag during the hour we are on watch.  We have American Flags and flags of all the service branches; we have a USN ships bell that we toll at noon in Honor of those who have made the supreme sacrifice.  The bell was given to us by one of our Navy Veterans who was a regular until his passing a few months ago;  One WWII Vet left us his combat boots and helmet and we have a growing number of other treasures given by so many Veterans or their families as they learn just what we are representing there each week.  We have a large sign with the number of consecutive weeks and it says, "HONK IF YOU SUPPORT OUR TROOPS"  ...

 

Each Friday the cast changes some;  We have Veterans from WWII's Battle of the Bulge, Korea Vets, Viet Nam Vets, Cold War era Vets, Veterans through other skirmishes and up to and including our current troop deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Some days we are lucky and have some of our current active duty troops attend.  It makes our day to be associated with these young Warriors.  Some Veterans are there every Friday; many others when they can make it; many Veterans wives and other civilian members bring their children and grandchildren to explain to them just what we are doing there.  It is an impressive lesson in history to many and especially to the younger generation.

 

The Monument Terrace Friday Vigil has certainly become a community unifying event; we even have some of those running for political office to drop by now and then.  Many community members stop by and say Thank You for doing this.  Many go out of their way to drive by, honk and wave.  It certainly is one of the most gratifying and heart warming events that we have put together in some years now.  It makes you proud to participate, to be a Veteran, and to be an American. 

 

I hope this can be used in Semper Fi for all MCL Members to see.  We are very proud of these citizens and especially of these Veterans.  We invite you down any Friday to become a part of this growing community gathering.  If the USA has troops deployed, we will be there!

 

Semper Fi,

 

Dale Wilson, Sr.

Sgt. USMC

MCL LM 16165