Vietnam Wall Escort
More than a thousand motorcycles, three helicopters and a contingent of police vehicles Wednesday night escorted a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from Cranberry Township to Butler Township.
The escort was organized by the Butler County American Legion Riders, a group of motorcycle-riding veterans and relatives of veterans from the area who frequently do escorts for members of the military returning home from overseas and for the remains of soldiers that are being returned for burial.
Wednesday's ride was open to any motorcycle rider, veteran or not, who wanted to participate. Organizers counted 1,030 motorcycles.
The Vietnam monument, located in the National Mall in Washington, D.C., includes the names of more than 58,000 servicemen and women who gave their lives in the Vietnam War.
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute is a 360-foot long and nearly 8-foot high replica of the wall — about 80 percent of the size of the real thing. Included on the monument are the names of 43 Butler County residents who died in the war.
Jim Miller of Chicora, one of the organizers with the Legion Riders, said the group has been planning this escort for 16 months. Along with the bikes, they had three helicopters, state police, volunteer fire vehicles, municipal police and Butler County Sheriff vehicles. The wall was carried in a 24-foot trailer pulled behind a pickup truck.
“We want to show the Vietnam veteran that we are proud of them, they did serve their country with honor. The sacrifices they made, they are not forgotten and we are proud of them,” Miller said.
The monument will be set up by volunteers Thursday morning behind the VA Butler Healthcare facility on New Castle Road. It will be on display and open to the public 24 hours per day from noon Thursday until noon Sunday.
If a visitor knows the name of a person killed in action, volunteers can identify the name's location on the wall. Like in Washington, they can leave mementos at this memorial that volunteers will later take to the capital along with a donation of money that is being raised by the American Legion Riders.The escort took about 90 minutes and the route took the bikes through Zelienople, Evans City, Lyndora and downtown Butler. Along the route, many residents watched from lawn chairs and waved American flags as the procession passed by.Giving high fives and fist bumps to the riders as they reached Evans City was Vietnam veteran Bob Johnson.“It's truly respectful. It brings a tear to my eye,” Johnson said. “These are my brothers. I'd go fight again for this country in a heartbeat.”As a member of the Cranberry Township VFW, he said he would be reading the names of the 43 county soldiers who died in the war during a ceremony Saturday at the VA.Riders Thomas and Patti Posch of Center Township belong to both the American Legion Riders of Butler and the Blue Knights in Pittsburgh.Patti's three brothers served in Vietnam and Thomas' father served in World War II.“It's nice to see everyone show up for a cause like this,” Patti said of the huge turnout for the escort. “It feels good to be among them.”Thomas' brother served in Vietnam, but not everyone in his circle was so lucky.
“A lot of my friends died over there,” he said.Those who served in Vietnam were among the bikers who rode Wednesday.Sewickley resident Joe Wadlow, who owns Monticello's Restaurant in Cranberry Township, was a rifleman in Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.“I lost 206 Marines and corpsmen,” Wadlow said.The names of every one of those men are etched into the paint on his 2006 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic.Wadlow was amazed at the number of motorcyclists that turned out to escort the wall.“They're true Americans,” Wadlow said. “You don't find this kind of camaraderie anywhere.”Bob Lippert of Eau Claire served as a machine-gunner in the Army's 9th Infantry in 1968.Lippert recalls the tough time he had upon returning to the states after his service.“There was a little dissension,” Lippert said. “I'd get in fistfights in bars.”He was touched at the number of motorcyclists and their passengers who came to escort the wall.“I'm really glad to see them support us and the wall,” Lippert said.Two special officers from the county sheriff's department waited near their official vehicle to help escort the wall.Bill Luchkiw serves in the Air Force Reserves and Nick Graham deployed to Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines.Graham commented on the poor treatment many Vietnam veterans received upon returning home from duty.“I had a very warm welcome home, and these guys didn't get that,” he said. “I'm very honored to be a part of this.”Luchkiw was also happy to participate in the line of law enforcement vehicles that led the bikes into Butler.“It's an awesome privilege to show respect to those who came before us and sacrificed,” he said.Luchkiw, who waited alongside Graham in their sheriff's uniforms, also marveled at the turnout of bikers.“Patriots come in all shapes and sizes,” Luchkiw said. “At the end of the day, we're all Americans.”
