Last year I bought a 101st Airborne Division flag and an official Alpha Company guidon to display at the annual namvets reunion in Kokomo Indiana. Recently I got to thinking about how I could put those items to good use more than once a year. I don't really know how the idea came to me but I decided I would display the flag and guidon for twentyfour hours on the dates that Alpha Company vets gave thier all in Vietnam. In trying to keep with flag etiquette for this sort of thing I attached a black ribbon to the top of the pole. My personal tribute starts today, July 7th 2011 by honoring 1st. Lt. John Thomas Holton Jr. KIA July 7th 1968 in Thua Thien province.
After all these years Lt. Holton has become the focal point of a book written by Jean Neidert that was inspired by the journals, letters and poems of Phil Woodall who was Holton's RTO in the summer of '68. The book is titled "RESURGAM" - Standing On The Ground Of Remembrance. If you would like to learn more about the book please visit
http://www.groundofremembrance.com/
Way to go, Gary. Solemn and respectful. And it looks good as well. See ya shortly in Kokomo.
ReplyDeleteThanks John, but I have to make a correction. I overlooked another Alpha company trooper that died on July 7th. "E4 David L. Womble KIA July 7, 1970".
ReplyDeleteThe flag and guidon were also back up yesterday, July 23rd for "E3 Wayne E. Timothy, KIA July 23, 1968".
I'm bringing the big tent for you and your buddy(s)
see you in september :)