CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) The Vietnam Veterans of America, Clarksville Chapter 396, held their annual Candlelight Vigil Sunday at Veterans Plaza. The ceremony honors the memory and service of the men and women who were left behind in Vietnam when U.S. Forces left in 1975.
The names of the 27 Tennesseans who have yet to be returned from Vietnam were read aloud. As each name was read, a candle was lit, a bell tolled, and a chair with the name of the POW/MIA was placed in the center of the ceremony.
A member of Chapter 396 also announced, “absent, but not forgotten” as each name was read in the ceremony. The vigil began in 1989 by chapter 396 and at that time there were 43 POW/MIA’s listed. One of those soldiers, U.S. Army Sergeant, Donald Gervais is from Clarksville.
Guest speaker for the ceremony was 67th District Tennessee State Representative Joe Pitts who spoke about the reading of the names. “There’s 27 names representing 27 families, friends and communities still waiting final word on their loved one. They’re presumed dead but they still don’t know, so they deserve closure so I think it’s incumbent on us every year to pause and remember those 27 names,” said Pitts.
The Montgomery Central High School JROTC handled the presentation of the colors and assisted with the placing of the chairs of those from Tennessee who have not returned.
The Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization will host the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 28 at 10 a.m. at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane.