Posted 12:05 am Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Veterans Question City On Vandalized Memorial Still Standing
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Johnny Dark, of Tyler, decided to take advantage of the weekend break in the weather and spend a little time outdoors.
While strolling through Bergfeld Park, he noticed the aging Vietnam War memorial was damaged and in serious need of repair.
Staff Writer
Johnny Dark, of Tyler, decided to take advantage of the weekend break in the weather and spend a little time outdoors.
While strolling through Bergfeld Park, he noticed the aging Vietnam War memorial was damaged and in serious need of repair.
“Granite was torn off,” Dark, 52, said. “The bench was dilapidated. There was a lady trying to sit on the bench, and it was collapsing under her — it was pretty embarrassing, and it was right in the middle of the park.”
Dark said he knew several men who died in that war and believes that Vietnam veterans deserve better.
Dark said he knew several men who died in that war and believes that Vietnam veterans deserve better.
He voiced concerns this week, telling city leaders, elected officials and other veterans to address the problem — quickly.
“I think it's disrespectful,” he said. “If the city is going to maintain a park, something needs to be done. The city could put a tarp across it or take it out.”
“I think it's disrespectful,” he said. “If the city is going to maintain a park, something needs to be done. The city could put a tarp across it or take it out.”
VIETNAM RECALLED
The issue of what to do with the Vietnam War memorial actually started years earlier.
A group of veterans got together around the late 1970s and raised money for a marker that included the names of Smith County soldiers who perished in the war, community members said.
As the years passed, the marker's condition declined.
Around 2004, a different group of veterans, concerned about its decay, approached the city about fixing it.
Repairs were estimated at $4,000 and too costly to pursue, veterans said.
“We asked the city to repair it, and they wouldn't,” said Jack Clephas, a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 932. “We decided to build a new one.”
Chapter members raised more than $6,000 for a duplicate marker placed at the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza, believing the new downtown location would thwart vandals and boost exposure.
The new marker features 44 names and serves as a permanent reminder of Smith County men who lost their lives in the 18-year war, recalled as the longest in U.S. history.
The duplicate stone was installed in November 2006, but the old version was never repaired or removed from Bergfeld Park.
“It should have been taken down a long time ago,” Clephas, 62, said. “We asked the city to remove it. They said they didn't have time or manpower to do it. We asked several times — we finally gave up.”
Years later, the marker still is there.
“It's in a lot worse shape than five years ago,” said Larry Brown, 64, another member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 932. “Being a marker, you can't just go haul it out of there. It's sad to see what it looks like now.”
Parks and Recreation Director Stephanie Rollings said the city is aware of the marker's condition.
She inherited the situation from a previous director and said repairs still are too expensive for the city.
“What should have happened is to address the old one at the time the new one was put in,” she said. “It's a sensitive matter — it really should be taken down.”
She said the city is not going to dismantle it without input from veterans groups and interested stakeholders.
Tyler parks feature numerous community-donated memorials, all of which will require eventual care and upkeep.
Dark's complaints to city leaders this week revived the need to figure out what to do about the Vietnam marker and who is responsible for paying for repairs.
“Taxpayers are funding the perpetual care of these monuments,” Ms. Rollings said. “This issue brings the conversation back to light.”
A group of veterans got together around the late 1970s and raised money for a marker that included the names of Smith County soldiers who perished in the war, community members said.
As the years passed, the marker's condition declined.
Around 2004, a different group of veterans, concerned about its decay, approached the city about fixing it.
Repairs were estimated at $4,000 and too costly to pursue, veterans said.
“We asked the city to repair it, and they wouldn't,” said Jack Clephas, a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 932. “We decided to build a new one.”
Chapter members raised more than $6,000 for a duplicate marker placed at the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza, believing the new downtown location would thwart vandals and boost exposure.
The new marker features 44 names and serves as a permanent reminder of Smith County men who lost their lives in the 18-year war, recalled as the longest in U.S. history.
The duplicate stone was installed in November 2006, but the old version was never repaired or removed from Bergfeld Park.
“It should have been taken down a long time ago,” Clephas, 62, said. “We asked the city to remove it. They said they didn't have time or manpower to do it. We asked several times — we finally gave up.”
Years later, the marker still is there.
“It's in a lot worse shape than five years ago,” said Larry Brown, 64, another member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 932. “Being a marker, you can't just go haul it out of there. It's sad to see what it looks like now.”
Parks and Recreation Director Stephanie Rollings said the city is aware of the marker's condition.
She inherited the situation from a previous director and said repairs still are too expensive for the city.
“What should have happened is to address the old one at the time the new one was put in,” she said. “It's a sensitive matter — it really should be taken down.”
She said the city is not going to dismantle it without input from veterans groups and interested stakeholders.
Tyler parks feature numerous community-donated memorials, all of which will require eventual care and upkeep.
Dark's complaints to city leaders this week revived the need to figure out what to do about the Vietnam marker and who is responsible for paying for repairs.
“Taxpayers are funding the perpetual care of these monuments,” Ms. Rollings said. “This issue brings the conversation back to light.”
WHO PAYS?
City officials said groups and individuals routinely ask to place trees, plaques, benches and other commemorative items in local parks to honor others.
Many groups assume caretaking responsibilities of their donations, but some assume the city will maintain the items and pay for repairs if they are damaged or deteriorate, Ms. Rollins said.
The Vietnam marker appears to be an example of what happens when repairs go unaddressed.
“It needs to be repaired, obviously,” Ms. Rollings said. “In the outside elements, they are not going to last forever.”
But spending $4,000 in taxpayer dollars to fix it requires additional discussion and approval, she said, especially when the marker is now a duplicate of the one downtown.
Questions also are being raised about ownership.
The Tyler City Council generally reviews and approves donations before they become city-owned property because upkeep and maintenance are funded with taxpayer dollars.
No one remembers whether the original was accepted as city property.
“It's complicated,” Ms. Rollins said. “I can't say what's been done in the past. We'll have to go back” and look for the records.
Regardless of who owns it, Brown believes the marker should remain in place and repaired.
“Our chapter can probably help” with repair costs, Brown said. “They (veterans) went to a lot of work and fundraising to put it there — it should stay.”
Efforts are under way to clarify the issue — Tyler Parks Board members approved guidelines in March to establish a commemorative tree program and work continues to create ordinances that will prevent future misunderstandings.
“This is our opportunity to take care of it,” Ms. Rollings said. “This is something that should have been done years ago.”
Many groups assume caretaking responsibilities of their donations, but some assume the city will maintain the items and pay for repairs if they are damaged or deteriorate, Ms. Rollins said.
The Vietnam marker appears to be an example of what happens when repairs go unaddressed.
“It needs to be repaired, obviously,” Ms. Rollings said. “In the outside elements, they are not going to last forever.”
But spending $4,000 in taxpayer dollars to fix it requires additional discussion and approval, she said, especially when the marker is now a duplicate of the one downtown.
Questions also are being raised about ownership.
The Tyler City Council generally reviews and approves donations before they become city-owned property because upkeep and maintenance are funded with taxpayer dollars.
No one remembers whether the original was accepted as city property.
“It's complicated,” Ms. Rollins said. “I can't say what's been done in the past. We'll have to go back” and look for the records.
Regardless of who owns it, Brown believes the marker should remain in place and repaired.
“Our chapter can probably help” with repair costs, Brown said. “They (veterans) went to a lot of work and fundraising to put it there — it should stay.”
Efforts are under way to clarify the issue — Tyler Parks Board members approved guidelines in March to establish a commemorative tree program and work continues to create ordinances that will prevent future misunderstandings.
“This is our opportunity to take care of it,” Ms. Rollings said. “This is something that should have been done years ago.”
