Vietnam veterans to gather Sat. at park

The community is invited to help mark the 20th anniversary of Pottstown’s Vietnam Memorial dedication.

POTTSTOWN >> Vietnam veterans in the Pottstown area will have a lot to celebrate this weekend.

The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 565 of Pottstown will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pottstown’s Vietnam Memorial on Saturday. The memorial, located in Memorial Park off King and Manatawny streets, is dedicated to 25 area men that were killed in Vietnam and was dedicated in 1996.

The memorial features a gazebo, which is the center of the memorial, and is dedicated to Gold Star families. It additionally features a bronze soldier, designed by a local artist and retired marine. A triangular walkway contains bricks dedicated to all veterans along with 26 flowering plum and cherry trees for each of the KIAs and one for all POW-MIA’s. The trees are lit and each bears the name, year of birth and year of death.

On Oct. 1, the ceremony honoring the memorial’s anniversary will begin at 11 a.m. and all community members are invited.

“We are asking that any local vets that worked on the project please be at the service,” said Terry Foulke, one of the celebration’s organizers. “There is no charge and some awards will be handed out. This is just a small way of thanking those that thought enough to remember our fallen brothers.”

“We are asking that any local vets that worked on the project please be at the service.” — Terry Foulke, one of the celebration’s organizers