Paying tribute, honoring "real" heroes

By NOREEN HYSLOP

Managing Editor

"There are a lot of people today who are called heros, but by our presence here, we are affirming that every person whose name is on this wall is a hero," Brigadier General (Ret) Charles Kruse told the crowd gathered at Dexter's East City Park as they paid a formal tribute to "The Moving Wall," the half-scale memorial to all those whose lives were lost to the Vietnam War.

MIKE McCOY-mmccoy@dailystatesman.com Keynote speaker at Sunday's Moving Wall ceremony was Brigadier General (Ret) Charles Kruse of Dexter.

Kruse, a heavily decorated military veteran and Dexter native, was the keynote speaker at Sunday's ceremony that followed a flag-waving motorcade from Business 60 to the park grounds shortly after 1 p.m.

The Wall pulled out of Dexter on Monday, after having been in place for visitation 24-hours a day since Thursday, Aug. 6.

The visit was made possible through the efforts of the Dexter Tourism Committee. It is estimated that some 3,000 people visited the display during its time in the city of Dexter.

A host of volunteers, the young and the not so young, made The Moving Wall an especially meaningful experience for residents from miles around. More than once, it was expressed to those on site that had it not been for The Moving Wall coming to Dexter, family members of ones whose names are etched on the wall would never have been able to experience witnessing the tribute to their loved one.

"I met a gentleman who was very emotional as he was leaving the wall," Kruse explained following the ceremony. "He explained to me that his brother's name was on the wall, and had it not been for The Moving Wall coming to Dexter, he would never have witnessed seeing him memorialized. It was a very touching thing to hear that."

Kruse, who has made many trips to the nation's capitol on various assignments over the years, noted Sunday that while each of the war memorials in Washington, D.C. has its own very special presence, the Vietnam Memorial is particularly memorable because it bears the names of every person whose life was lost to the war -- "all 58,220 of them."

Kruse cited two songs in particular that he feels best portray the sentiment of the Vietnam War and its era. The first was a recent Tim McGraw song entitled, "If You're Reading This." The song tells the dialogue of a soldier who never came home, but left a letter behind.

The second song Kruse cited was an older one by The Statler Brothers called, "More Than a Name on The Wall."

"Every person on this wall is more than a name," Kruse told Sunday's crowd gathered at The Moving Wall. "They are from cities and towns all across this country. May God bless their memories, May God bless their families, and May God bless the United Stated of America."

Making it Possible

As stated, the Tourism Committee, namely Jerry Corder of that committee, made possible The Moving Wall's visit to Dexter. Corder and the committee are quick to credit, however, the volunteerism of many who willingly gave of their time, their talents, and in the case of the DHS Bearcats, their brute strength and ingenuity, that made the event the success it was. Members of the Park and Recreation Department, the Fire and Police Departments, as well as the Street and Water Departments, were instrumental, as were Board of Real Estate volunteers who manned computers on site to assist visitors with locating names on the massive display.

The American Legion Kenady-Hanks Post 59 Honor Guard, as well as the Stoddard County Honor Guard members provided the Presentation of the Colors and the Gun Salute at Sunday's ceremony.

The Dexter High School Band performed a highly emotion rendition of "Taps," and Lauren Powers sang, "God Bless America" following the local Boy Scouts of Troop 200 leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

Dee Loflin of the Show Me Times spent many hours recruiting and organizing volunteer efforts as well as photographing the event as it unfolded.

City Manager Mark Stidham also played a vital role throughout the week in helping to oversee the placement of the wall and in assuring the solemnity and respect with which the exhibit is surrounded.

Volunteers also provided water and ice as relief from the extreme heat of recent days.

"We live in a community that time after time displays a level of compassion second to none," said Stidham following the event. "There are no words to express this city's thanks for all of those who played a part in The Moving Wall's presence in Dexter. It is genuinely appreciated."