The Cpl. Charles J. Glenn III USMC Memorial was installed on the corner of Wildey and Marlborough St. in 1967. This memorial is one of the oldest in the country honoring those who served in Vietnam. The first Veterans Day service was held four months after Cpl. Glenn died in the line of duty. Ten more fallen neighborhood soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam are also inscribed on the monument.
Cpl. Glenn lived on Day Street below Girard Avenue. This is in the parish of the Immaculate Conception church at Front and Allen St. Just across the street is Tip Top Playground where he and his friends played basketball against other kids from Holy Name and St Michael's, neighboring parishes, that were above Girard Avenue.
This Veterans Day service was arranged to "give a voice" to these soldiers by those who knew them as family and friend thus giving a glimpse into the lives of each one of them.
Tess Breen, the "voice" for Cpl. Butch McCuen Jr USMC, said it so well. "I don't think any veteran should be remembered from a newspaper article."
These are real people, not just a name etched in stone, but people that are loved and missed by family and friends.
(click picture for slideshow)
The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society
The Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums
Veteran William Burke the voice for P.F.C. Harry Seedes 3rd USA
Warriors' Watch Riders
Tess Breen and sister the voice for Cpl. Butch McCuen Jr. USMC
Jewell Sessions the voice for Spec 4 William R. Sessions USA
Voices waiting to speak.
Howard and Ed Secrest the voice for Sgt. Edward W. Secrest
Vietnam veteran John Lonergan shouts the name of each person memorialized in a symbolic roll call. Veteran George Ludwig, Cpl. Glenn's uncle, responds "present and accounted for."
A finale salute
words culled and arranged from various sources
all pictures by roman blazic_all rights reserved
outstanding photos of our Service.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on this blog and pictures Roman.
ReplyDelete"It is our duty to remember"
ReplyDelete