Posted 12:57 am Thursday, May 12, 2011
Tyler Opts To Move Damaged War Memorial
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
An aging Vietnam War memorial that spent decades in Bergfeld Park soon could have a new home.
City crews removed the marker last week amid public concerns over its declining condition — portions of the granite were chipped or missing, and a bench, used for prayer and reflection, was unstable.
Staff Writer
An aging Vietnam War memorial that spent decades in Bergfeld Park soon could have a new home.
City crews removed the marker last week amid public concerns over its declining condition — portions of the granite were chipped or missing, and a bench, used for prayer and reflection, was unstable.
Efforts are under way to relocate it to the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, located at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.
“We had a meeting on it this morning with the parks department,” Carolyn Verver, board president, said Wednesday.
“We had a meeting on it this morning with the parks department,” Carolyn Verver, board president, said Wednesday.
Specific details determining when and how the marker will go on display are still in the works, it seems.
The issue of what to do about the marker came to light about two weeks ago after Bergfeld Park visitor Johnny Dark, 52, of Tyler, raised concerns about its deteriorating condition.
The issue of what to do about the marker came to light about two weeks ago after Bergfeld Park visitor Johnny Dark, 52, of Tyler, raised concerns about its deteriorating condition.
Dark said he felt the continued public display was disrespectful to service members who fought and died in the war, some of whom he knew from boyhood.
And he related his thoughts to city officials, asking for quick action.
“It just really rubbed me the wrong way,” he said.
Within days, the marker, a duplicate of a Vietnam war memorial located downtown, was gone.
Susan Guthrie, communications director, said care was taken to ensure the marker sustained no further damage during its removal.
“We actually had one of the family members of the company that first installed help remove it,” she said. “Right now it is being stored. We met with HAMM and they agreed to accept and display it as part of their collection.”
Getting it out of the weather will help prolong its life, she said.
“Because of the design, it was facing additional repairs,” Ms. Guthrie said. “Water was getting behind the granite and consequently, was making the pieces pop off.”
The marker was installed around the late 1970s as a way to honor 44 Smith County servicemen who perished in the 18-year war.
As the years passed, the marker's condition declined.
Around 2004, a different group of veterans, concerned over its decay, approached the city about fixing it, but repairs — estimated at around $4,000 were too costly for the city to fund.
Veterans raised about $6,000 for a duplicate marker, but placed it at the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza, believing the new downtown location would thwart vandals and boost exposure.
The duplicate stone was positioned in November 2006, but the old version remained in the park until last week.
Some veterans appear satisfied over the latest development.
“I'm happy they took it out,” Jack Clephas, a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 932, said. “It's long overdue.”
He said the museum is the perfect setting.
“It's excellent,” he said. “Military memorabilia should go there.”
Retired Lt. Col. Jim D. Snow agreed.
“It should have been done a long time ago.”
The man who first complained said Wednesday he was happy the memorial will receive a permanent home in a place created to honor military service.
“It's heart-warming that people were willing to step up and help out,” he said. “I knew some of those guys from the neighborhood; they were all a little ahead of me. Had the war not ended, that could have been my name on that marker.”
And he related his thoughts to city officials, asking for quick action.
“It just really rubbed me the wrong way,” he said.
Within days, the marker, a duplicate of a Vietnam war memorial located downtown, was gone.
Susan Guthrie, communications director, said care was taken to ensure the marker sustained no further damage during its removal.
“We actually had one of the family members of the company that first installed help remove it,” she said. “Right now it is being stored. We met with HAMM and they agreed to accept and display it as part of their collection.”
Getting it out of the weather will help prolong its life, she said.
“Because of the design, it was facing additional repairs,” Ms. Guthrie said. “Water was getting behind the granite and consequently, was making the pieces pop off.”
The marker was installed around the late 1970s as a way to honor 44 Smith County servicemen who perished in the 18-year war.
As the years passed, the marker's condition declined.
Around 2004, a different group of veterans, concerned over its decay, approached the city about fixing it, but repairs — estimated at around $4,000 were too costly for the city to fund.
Veterans raised about $6,000 for a duplicate marker, but placed it at the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza, believing the new downtown location would thwart vandals and boost exposure.
The duplicate stone was positioned in November 2006, but the old version remained in the park until last week.
Some veterans appear satisfied over the latest development.
“I'm happy they took it out,” Jack Clephas, a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 932, said. “It's long overdue.”
He said the museum is the perfect setting.
“It's excellent,” he said. “Military memorabilia should go there.”
Retired Lt. Col. Jim D. Snow agreed.
“It should have been done a long time ago.”
The man who first complained said Wednesday he was happy the memorial will receive a permanent home in a place created to honor military service.
“It's heart-warming that people were willing to step up and help out,” he said. “I knew some of those guys from the neighborhood; they were all a little ahead of me. Had the war not ended, that could have been my name on that marker.”
