Vietnam Veterans on the Wall of Honor.
Thanks to Rod Schwandt, USAF and his wife for this great photo.
If you'd like more information you can to talk with one of the founders, please call Nick Parnello at 815-968-1040.
The Wall of Honor, LZ Peace Memorial
The names of over 75 veterans are etched into the wall, forever reminding us that their courage was our greatest triumph and their sacrifice was our greatest loss. Also, in this peaceful setting, a Huey helicopter that served in Vietnam rests above the Wall of Honor.
Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day at 11 a.m. members of the Vietnam Veterans Honor Society hold a memorial service honoring those who died in Vietnam and in all other American wars.
The wall itself is crafted from Academy Black granite which was quarried from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the small town of Clovis, California, near Fresno. This granite was formed during the Jurassic era, when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
The Academy Black granite is used in the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC;
Guided tours of the LZ Peace Memorial are available. Please call Nick Parnello at 815-968-1040 for more information. Nick is one of the founders of the Vietnam Veterans Honor Society and has an encyclopedic memory. He can probably tell you when each phase of the memorial was started and completed.
A personally guided tour generally takes about an hour. But of course it can last longer and when it's over you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like. The tours are free but if you'd like to make a donation* to the Vietnam Veterans Honor Society it would be greatly appreciated.
Not many people can get up close and personal to a real "Vietnam War helicopter," one that actually flew and saw combat, but you can do that here on Nick's guided tour. He has the keys for everything so he'll open the doors and you can look inside.
Try to imagine how your son or that skinny neighbor kid who was only 18 years old felt flying into combat. That's a scary thought. It's guaranteed to give you goosebumps and put a lump in your throat.
Many family members of the Heroes on the Wall will come here to be closer to their loved one whether it's their father, their son, their husband, or an old friend. One man who comes here several times a year went to grade school with six of these Vietnam veterans whose names are etched in stone.
Army reservist veteran, Quinten Barclay, who was the President of Cummings Advertising, frequently came to the Wall for times of quiet contemplation and to meditate.
Quint, as his friends called him, died several years ago, and his wife, Martha, donated one of the benches you see surrounding the wall. You can see about 12 benches so there's always a nice place to rest and think about what was, and, what might have been.
God bless these brave Americans. May they rest in peace.
Click here for a PDF map and story about Black Academy Granite.
*The Vietnam Veteran's Honor Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and contributions and donations to us are tax-decuctible to the extent of the law.
Vietnam veterans from Winnebago county.
Vietnam Veterans Honor Society
Click on a name for more information and it will open in a new window. Thank you.
John Charles Alberts, Army, South Beloit
James AllanAscher, Army, Winnebago
Melvin Ballard, Army, Rockford
Ralph Anthony Barcelona, Army, Rockford
Norman Elmer Beck, Marines, Rockford
Larry Dean Bell, Marines, Rockford
Wayne Valgeen Blake, Marines, Rockford
Alan Lee Boyer, Army, Rockford
George Richard Butler, Marines, Durand
Arnoldo J. Cardenas, Army, Rockford
Curtis Paul Challberg, Army, Loves Park
Eldon Dean Coldren Jr., Army, Rockford
Daniel Coleman, Marines, Rockford
Michael Lee Collins, Army, Rockford
John C. Davis, Army, South Beloit
Earmon Ray Derrington, Army, Rockford
Martin John DiMarzio, Army, Rockford
John Paul Didier Jr., Army, Rockford
Curtis Lee Duckett, Army, Rockford
George N. Fanis Jr., Army, Rockford
Patrick Dale Finch, Army, Rockford
David Eugene Flaningam, Marines, Rockford
Thomas Duane Glawe, Marines, Rockford
Thomas A. Goebel, Marines, Rockford
Ray Lonnie Gonce, Marines, Loves Park
David Arlin Gulrantson, Army, Rockford
Richard F. Hawks, Marines, Rockford
Ronnie L. Hawks, Marines, Rockford
Daniel Robert Hoffman, Army, Rockford
John R. Hornsby, Army, Rockford
Michael Joseph Ingrassia, Army, Rockford
John Jeffrey Jensen, Army, Rockford
Daniel Gene Johnson, Army, Rockford
Gerald Dennis Kiesling, Army, Rockford
Larry William Knight, Navy, Rockford
Terry Lee Larsen, Army, Rockford
Steve Donald Lee, Army, Rockford
Notley Gwynn Maddox, Air Force, Rockford
Larry Dale McGhee, Army, Rockford
Michael John McGlothlin, Marines, Pecatonica
Michael James McKinson, Marines, Pecatonica
Donald L. Meehan Jr., Army, Rockford
Gary Lee Mizner, Army, Rockford
Philip Gwyn Nichols, Army, Rockford
David Donell Nicholson, Marines, Rockford
Lawrence E. Orsborn, Navy, Rockford
James H. Owens Jr., Army, Rockford
Stanley F. Patterson, Army, Loves Park
Wallis Gilbert Patterson, Army, Rockford
Robert Verner Pearson, Army, Rockford
Feliz Perris, Marines, Loves Park
Roderick James Rodenbeck, Army, Rockford
Henry Clyde Sanders, Marines, Rockford
Kris Edward Shaw, Army, Rockford
Lora William Snyder, Marines, Rockford
Gordon William Stark, Army, Rockford
Charles Stanley Tarbert, Army, Pecatonica
A. W. Tripplett, Marines, Rockford
Ronald A. Van Wambeke, Marines, Rockford
Marcelino Vargas Jr., Marines, Rockford
John Wesley Vowles, Marines, Cherry Valley
Harold Francis Werle, Marines, Rockford
Kenneth Leroy White, Army, Rockford
Jerry Wayne Wickam, Army, Rockford
Lonnie Williams, Army, Rockford
Robert Earl Williams, Marines, Rockford
John Wayne Woolbright, Marines, Rockford
Kurt Frederick Zimmerman, Marines, Durand
Lester “Lek” Vance, Army, Rockford
Craig Walter Anderson, Navy, Rockford
David Lawrence Lyons, Navy, Rockford
Ronnie Albert Hecker, Army, Rockford
Judy Boyer Bouchard,
Alan's sister.
Here is a photo of my POW/MIA flag. I have flown the flag for many years, in order to honor my brother, SFC Alan L. Boyer, MIA, Laos, March 28, 1968, as well as all other POW/MIAs. When people stop to inquire about the "black flag," I am pleased to be able to spread awareness of this issue.
My mother, Dorothy Boyer, now 89 years old, has flown her POW/MIA flag (and American flag, of course) for as long as I can remember. Her picture has already appeared in the VietNow National Magazine. I'm glad to carry on the tradition.--Judy Boyer
Our thanks to Vietnow magazine for permission to use this photo and article.
To read the full story about POW/MIA flags in Vietnow National magazine click here.