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Letters: Honoring those who died for us

ISSUE | MEMORIAL DAY Three days for specific honorees As a U.S. Army veteran of four years and an American Legion post commander for the last 20 years, I would like to set the record straight on the misuse of terms in honoring members of the military and veterans.

Pfc. Donald Jerry Evans of West Philadelphia is one of 648 fallen heroes listed on the Wall of Names at the at Penn's Landing. Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Pfc. Donald Jerry Evans of West Philadelphia is one of 648 fallen heroes listed on the Wall of Names at the at Penn's Landing. Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans MemorialRead morePhiladelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial

ISSUE | MEMORIAL DAY

Three days for specific honorees

As a U.S. Army veteran of four years and an American Legion post commander for the last 20 years, I would like to set the record straight on the misuse of terms in honoring members of the military and veterans.

On the third Saturday of May, Armed Forces Day, we honor those who are still on military duty. It's not a day to honor veterans or those who died defending America.

On Memorial Day, we honor only those uniformed-services members who died defending our country. We do not honor veterans or those in the military - only those who made the ultimate sacrifice, who never became veterans.

And on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, we honor those who served in the military and came home. Those can be living or deceased veterans, but not the active military or those who died in service.

It is unfortunate that we do not have a specific day to honor the hundreds of members of our military who were captured and are still missing, from World War II to the current conflicts. Pray for the prisoners of war and those missing in action that we eventually bring them all home.

|Rocco J. Polidoro, post commander, American Legion, Springfield, roccojohn@comcast.net

They died for us

Memorial Day is dedicated to remembering those who have died while serving in this country's armed forces. According to the holy prophet of Islam, "Love of one's country is a part of faith."

As such, I love this nation and the many rights and privileges it provides me. Members of the military killed in action were critical in ensuring these freedoms and rights, and I am extremely grateful for their service.

|Dr. Madeel Abdullah, Newtown Square, madeel1@gmail.com

Remembering a brave West Philly soldier

As the commanding officer of two U.S. Army companies that lost 17 men and had 88 wounded in a two-day firefight with the Viet Cong 50 years ago, I would like to remember one of my men and Philadelpia's own, Pfc. Donald Jerry Evans.

Evans, a mortarman, was among the 252 soldiers from Company A, First Battalion, 35th Infantry, and Company B, Second Battalion, 35th Infantry, who defended a small, swampy clearing in the central highlands west of Pleiku, near the Cambodian border, until relieved by the remainder of the First Battalion, 35th Infantry, on May 29, 1966.

The 18-year-old received the Silver Star posthumously, with this description of his heroism: Private First Class Evans continually exposed himself to the intense, hostile fire to provide effective mortar support to the rifle platoons. Although he was seriously wounded in both legs during the ensuing battle, he continued to man his position until he was assured that his comrades had taken cover from the incoming Viet Cong fire. He then waited for medical evacuation and continued to direct and encourage his comrades. Private First Class Evans died three hours later as a result of his wounds."

Evans and the others killed in that battle will be honored Monday at the annual Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial Park in Franklin, Tenn. Bricks inscribed with name, rank, date, and place of death have been installed in the park, which I helped build.

Evans followed the flag and gave his country his full measure. Those of you who knew him will always remember him as forever young. The few of us who were there and served with the fallen will never forget them.

Philadelphia has every right to be proud of her sons.

|Wallace S. Tyson, retired Army colonel, Franklin, Tenn. wstyson@bellsouth.net