CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – On Memorial Day weekend, as they have since 1989, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Chapter 396 in Clarksville held their Candlelight Vigil to remember the men and women who were left behind in Vietnam when American forces withdrew in 1975.
The ceremony, held Sunday, May 24 at Veterans Plaza on Pageant Lane remembered 27 Tennessee Vietnam War veterans and honored one other, Staff Sergeant Lawrence Woods of Clarksville, whose remains were returned to the U.S. and to his family in 2014.
As the names of each of the Tennessee POW/MIA’s were called, a veteran would say, “absent but not forgotten,” a bell was struck one time, and a Montgomery Central High School JROTC member would place an empty chair with their name in the center of the ceremony. The chair for Woods was permanently retired at Sunday’s ceremony.
RELATED CONTENT: Staff Sergeant Lawrence Woods
Gery Ezell, with the VVA said when the ceremony began 26 years ago there were 43 POW/MIA’s from Tennessee and added that across the U.S. there are approximately 1,300 veterans of the Vietnam War that are not accounted for.
Guest speaker for the Candlelight Vigil was Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Frank Garcia, Commanding Officer of the Montgomery Central High School JROTC. Colonel Garcia talked about recognizing those who have sacrificed so much in service to the nation.
“We must never forget the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice or those who were never returned properly. We will not forget. Their memories are forever printed in the minds of the families and friends of those that were left behind,” Garcia said.