[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 135 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5529-S5530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SOUTH BOSTON VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL

  Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I rise to express my congratulations and 
best wishes to the people of South Boston, MA, as they honor their 
community's long tradition of service to country on the 30th 
anniversary of the South Boston Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  Thirty years ago, on September 13, 1981, the people of South Boston, 
led by their own citizens who had served in the Vietnam war, became one 
of the first communities in the United States to build and dedicate a 
permanent memorial in honor of those who had given their lives in 
Vietnam. I was privileged to be a speaker at the original dedication of 
the memorial, and I am honored to be returning to South Boston this 
year in order to once again pay tribute to those who served.
  It is difficult for many of the generation that followed us to 
understand how bitterly our country had been divided by that war and 
how long it took to overcome if not resolve the divisions, often along 
class lines, that were left in its wake. I do not seek to reopen those 
wounds today, but it should not be forgotten that 25 young men from 
this solidly working-class community gave their lives in Vietnam, while 
Harvard College, located nearby on the far banks of the River Charles, 
lost a total of 12 out of the 11 classes from 1962 to 1972.
  In building this memorial, the people of South Boston took it upon 
themselves to honor their own, and in so doing they reignited the 
spirit of service to country, not only here in Boston but elsewhere 
across our country. It was built through the dedication of friends and 
neighbors, acting together to honor and remember the service and 
sacrifice of those they knew and loved.
  Many veterans from this community took strong roles in bringing the 
memorial to fruition, but I would like to extend a special recognition 
to Tommy Lyons, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, who not only 
provided spirited and determined leadership on this Memorial but also 
went on to found the Semper Fidelis Society in Boston, which every 
November brings together more than 1,000 marines of all ages and wars 
for the most well-attended veterans' lunch in America.
  Mr. President, 25 names are engraved on the South Boston memorial--
all of them ``Southie Boys,'' 15 of them marines, 9 soldiers, 1 airman. 
One of them was a lieutenant; the other 24 were enlisted men. All of 
them represent the best of citizen service, the willingness to put 
one's life on the line on behalf of our country.
  In closing, I ask that the names of those inscribed on the memorial 
be printed below:

     Joseph J. Agri, USMC
     Charles A. Bazzinotti, USA
     Richard J. Borovick, USA
     John C. Calhoun, USMC
     John H. Cole, USMC
     Paul M. Daley, USA
     Ronald L. Delverde, USMC
     Joseph F. Desmond, USMC
     Joseph W. Dunn, USMC
     Devon M. Enman, USA
     Gene D. Grover, USMC
     Frank C. Hubicsak, USA

[[Page S5530]]

     Douglas J. Itri, USA
     John P. Jacobs, USMC
     John G. Joyce, USA
     Edward W. Milan, USAF
     James E. O'Toole, USA
     Burton W. Peterson, USMC
     Paul H. Sheehan, USMC
     James J. Stewart, USMC
     Edward T. Stone, USMC
     Edward M. Sullivan, USMC
     Joseph E. Thomas, USMC
     Donald J. Turner, USMC
     James K. Wheeler, USA

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