Vietnam veterans honor the dead at their 50th dedication

The Times photo by Betsy Reason. The Hamilton County Vietnam Veterans Memorial in downtown Noblesville was re-unveiled on Saturday evening.

The Times photo by Betsy Reason. Vietnam Veteran, Fisher Resident Ward D. Britt, author of the 2021 paperback, “Emergence, A Memoir, The Marine Corps, God and Me,” was a speaker at Saturday’s dedication to the Hamilton County Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Noblesville.

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The Times photo by Betsy Reason Vietnam veteran Ron Wilson, a 1964 Noblesville high school and US Navy veteran, served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971 and is a member of the American Legion Post 45 in Noblesville, and he hosted Saturday’s re-dedication of the Hamilton County Veterans Memorial in Vietnam.

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We couldn’t have asked for a better Saturday night for the 50th anniversary re-dedication of the Hamilton County Veterans Memorial in downtown Noblesville.
Vietnam veterans and their families as well as veterans organizations, county commissioners, Noblesville MP Victoria Spartz (R-Indiana) and others descended on the war memorial between the courthouse of the Hamilton County and the Old Jail for a 35-minute ceremony that would make those in attendance cry and laugh.
An exhibition has been set up to showcase the fallen soldiers of our county during the Vietnam War, 1955-1975. In addition, a table and a pop-up tent provided a place for Vietnam veterans to pick up their free, pre-ordered copy of the book “A Time To Remember”.
County commissioner Mark Heirbrandt volunteered at a table to hand out free 50th anniversary buttons and Vietnam veterans stickers.
Vietnam veteran Ron Wilson, a 1964 Noblesville high school and US Navy veteran, served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971 and is a member of the American Legion Post 45 in Noblesville. He is President of Hamilton County Veterans, former Commanding Officer of the Indiana Squadron and currently Senior National Staff Officer of Navy Club USA and, as the former Commanding Officer of Hamilton County Navy Club Ship 29, Wilson is now a Director. Wilson facilitated the re-dedication.
Vietnam veterans were invited to come forward and stand together to the right of the war memorial throughout the consecration.
Ward D. Britt, veteran fisherman residing in Vietnam, author of the 2021 paperback, “Emergence, A Memoir, The Marine Corps, God and Me,” spoke at the ceremony, then autographed and sold copies of his book. He said: “I was a whole new PFC… I decided I was going to do it the right way and learn everything I could learn and be a good Marine,” said Britt, who served. in artillery in the US Marines. . “Some of the things you will read in my book are the crazy things I did…. I went through Vietnam and came home.
Former County Veterans Services Officer Lynn Epperson, who is currently secretary / treasurer of Hamilton County Veterans Corp. Alan Jensen Bardach of Noblesville, PFC Thomas Lynn Bell of Noblesville, SP4 Daniel Ellis Biddle of Arcadia; PFC Steven Eugene Clark of Noblesville, SP4 Benjamin David Coy Jr. of Noblesville, CPL Michael Lee Farley of Sheridan, PFC Roy Eldon Freeman Jr. of Noblesville, CPL Lawrence Lee Gordon of Noblesville, SSG James Michael Grant of Noblesville, PFC Gerald Lee Johnson of Sheridan, SGT Guy Thomas Jones of Sheridan, PFC Michael Howard Lawhorn of Noblesville, PFC Kenneth Lindle Oldham of Noblesville, CPL Michael Eugene Randall of Noblesville, SP4 Benjamin Elmer Scolley of Sheridan, CPL Robert Wayne Shelton of Noblesville, SSG Daniel Lee Terry of Noblesville, and CPL John Charles Cupp of Noblesville and Nelson T. Hicks of Carmel.
All Vietnamese veterans had the opportunity to honor their deceased siblings by stepping onto the podium to read their names.
Indianapolis singer Grace McKillup sang the national anthem and “God Bless America”. Don Vermillion of Noblesville played bagpipes and Dave Bechtel of Fishers, a member of Navy Club Ship No. 29, played tap dance at the end of the ceremony. Navy Club Ship 29 chaplain Ernie Hill led the opening prayer. The Rifle Squad consisted of the Hamilton County Veterans Honor Guard.
Other attendees were Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger, Bonnie Wooten with Daughters of the American Revolution, Deputy County Veterans Services Officer Robin Wilson, Renee Applegate with County Health Department; the city’s director of public safety, Chad Knecht, representing the office of the mayor of Noblesville; and Nancy Chance, director of the Hamilton County Good Samaritan Network.
The ceremony was well organized and well attended. Well done to Ron Wilson.

-Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com. Read more about Ward Britt and his book in The Times.