Frank Sojak
fsojak@tribdem.com
—
Rose Reed is writing a book to honor Vietnam War Era veterans, both living and deceased, with ties to the Cresson area and needs the help of veterans and their families.
The Cresson Girl Scout would like to have the information, photographs and stories that veterans or their families have to share by Sept. 10.
“I want to include all veterans of that era,” she said.
“Whether in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Germany, on a ship in the South China Sea, or stateside, they all were part of the war effort.
“A military nurse or doctor at Walter Reed Army Medical Center had an important part in taking care of the military as well. All were supporting the war effort. I hope to hear not only from the men, but from the ladies as well.”
The 18-year-old Reed said she is looking for veterans who lived in the Cresson area all their lives, veterans who are natives of the area but moved elsewhere, or veterans who were born elsewhere but moved to the area.
The book is part of the criteria she needs to complete to earn her Gold Award, the highest honor for a Girl Scout.
When completed, Post 238 of the American Legion in Cresson will sell the books with the proceeds benefiting the post’s veterans memorial, called the Wall that Whispers, plus other post programs.
Reed believes it is important to honor the veterans.
“The United States became involved in the Vietnam War in 1961 and the war ended in 1975,” she said. “That is a 14-year time span. So 36 to 50 years have passed.
“Our Vietnam Era veterans are the baby boomers who are either on Social Security or fast approaching.
“Many never talked about their experiences, especially if they were on the firing line. The time is now, before it is too late and they have passed on or their memories have faded.
“I am hoping time has passed and they will come forward and offer a story that they have to tell. It could be as simple as ‘the letters and cookies from home is what kept me going.’ ”
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