A Vietnam War memorial was welcomed home in its new location in downtown Burlington on Tuesday, April 26.
Boone County rededicated its memorial to Vietnam veterans with a ceremony at its new, more prominent location in Burlington Commons, which is right outside the Boone County Justice Center and across the street from the county administration building. The monument displays thirteen names, including Tommy Barlow’s brother.
Barlow, a Vietnam-era veteran, was at the ceremony on Tuesday. He said his brother, Edward, was killed in action. According to the dates on the memorial, his brother died at 21 years old. He said seeing a memorial to him, his comrades and neighbors displayed downtown “says a lot.”
“Bringing it here, it says a lot about how Boone County feels, supports and cares for its veterans,” Barlow said.
Originally dedicated in 1986, the memorial was previously located in Boone Woods Park.
Judge/Executive Gary Moore acknowledged that Vietnam soldiers weren’t welcomed home in the same way other veterans were, due to controversy and protests spurred by Vietnam being the first televised war.
“As the Burlington Commons Plaza was being designed … we eventually came to the conclusion that this was the best home for that monument,” Moore said. “So many Americans forgot to say– or refused to say– when our veterans returned from Vietnam, ‘Welcome home.’ Well, today we had a welcome home ceremony for the memorial. Placing it here in between the justice center the historic courthouse and the administration building where it would be more visible, and it would be more convenient for those that wanted to visit and pay respects here in the community.”
Etched in the gray granite slab are 13 names of local men who died overseas. The oldest was John Champlin, who was killed at age 42. John Malapelli, who is listed in the top left corner, died 11 days before his 19th birthday.
Below Barlow’s brother’s name is Charles Fleek, who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam. Originally from Petersburg, Fleek was awarded the medal posthumously for throwing himself on a grenade, saving at least eight of his squad member. Another memorial honoring his service is displayed inside the county administration building, outside the fiscal courtroom.
