Offering Historical Facts

The traditional Memorial Day observances were held locally again this year. Members of the Montrose Peace Vigil have been standing at the Vietnam Memorial since 2006 to encourage nonviolent solutions to conflict. We consider it a privilege and a duty to participate in the annual ceremony there.

We hear statements made there every year that, we believe, do not honor the sacrifices of the fallen in our wars, nor those they left behind. When it is said that “They died for our freedom,” we note that neither the liberties secured to us by the U.S. Constitution and our rule of law, nor the safety of our homeland, were in no way at stake in the Vietnam War. It is painful indeed to reflect that among the United States troops who fought courageously in Southeast Asia, 58,000 died there, along with over three million Vietnamese. When lies about the war are repeated year after year at our local memorial that senseless tragedy is compounded.

We hope that understanding and acknowledging the facts of history will lead to clearer understanding of the present, which will guide us to make choices that lead to fewer tragic losses and less need for memorials.

Roberta Medford, Montrose
Jeanne Lavieri,
La Crescenta