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.
Gary Ezell, with the local chapter, read the names of the 27 Tennesseans who have yet to be returned from Vietnam. 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/MIAs listed. One of those soldiers, U.S. Army Sgt. Donald Gervais, is from Clarksville.
Guest speaker for the ceremony was Matt Van Epps, Assistant Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services, West Tennessee Region. Van Epps served 10 years as a U.S. Army Aviation Officer and his last active duty assignment was with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) at Fort Campbell.
Van Epps talked about remembering veterans on Memorial Day. “I think it’s really important to find ways to continue to honor and remember veterans, not just Memorial Day, but year-round, however that might be,” said Van Epps.
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 scheduled for Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m. at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane.
