Guam’s Vietnam War Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall was first created about 2004 by the Guam Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America and on it is the names of Guam Sons killed in combat. There are 77 Guam Sons who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our Country in Vietnam. Presently 74 of our Sons' names are identified on the Wall. The Wall is located along one of Guam’s busiest roads, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, and is highly visible to passing motorists.
By 2012, the Wall became forgotten and even worse, it became a public eyesore. Graffiti appeared on it and trash mounted on the ground in front of it. Veterans Day commemorative ceremonies once held at the Wall ceased. It was during November 2014 that one of our members brought to the Chapter’s attention the Wall’s plight. The Chapter’s first action was to adopt the Wall at that meeting. The Chapter’s members immediately painted over the graffiti and cleaned up the trash. Since then, the Chapter has ensured the Wall remains graffiti and litter free. The Chapter also formed community partnerships to help restore honor to the Wall. One important partnership was with the adjacent homeowner who keeps the grass in front of the Wall always mowed. Beginning with Memorial Day 2015, the Chapter began the tradition of placing an American flag in front of each name and a flag for the three sons whose name is not listed on the Wall. Since then, a flag continues to be placed in front of each name plus Memorial wreaths and American and Guam flags are hung on the Wall on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Each time we place a flag, we say the name of the Guam Son and thank him for his service and for paying the ultimate price for our freedoms. Our actions however did not negate the fact the Wall was a visual eyesore and desperately needed to be painted and restoration work was needed in order to restore to our Guam Sons the full honor they deserve.
Guam has only a short window of time when it does not rain. During February 2018, the Chapter seized the dry season opportunity and began restoring the Wall to its former glory and bringing honor back to the Wall. Almost daily the Chapter’s members were at the Wall painting. Our community partners have also been assisting us in this effort.
Through our restoration effort, Chapter members working on the Wall were reminded almost on a daily basis of just how important the Wall is to our community. Cars honked as they pass by the Wall when members were painting. Sometimes a Vietnam War Veteran would stop to thank the Chapter. Many of the Veterans walked along the Wall and would stop in front of a name. Often they told the member about the individuals identified on the Wall. Vietnam Veterans were not the only ones who stop and thank the Chapter for its restoration efforts. Family members and the community would also stop to thank us. We know of several individuals who have no relationship to the Chapter who posted the Wall’s progress and the Chapter’s efforts on their personal Facebook pages. Moreover, since the Wall’s Phase I Restoration, people now stop their cars and walk the Wall and look at the names of the Guam Sons killed in action even if a Chapter member is not present. It is during these times that we are made aware that the Wall’s symbolism is not important just to us.While we did not attain our goal to completely restore the Vietnam War Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall by Memorial Day 2018, it continues to remain our Chapter’s goal is complete its full restoration. However, on Sunday morning before Memorial Day and on the day before Veterans Day, our Chapter members place American flags in front of each name and we hang American and Guam flags on the Wall along with memorial wreaths. The visual sight that greets passing motorists is a sharp contrast from those years when it looked forlorn. We accomplished our initial goal of restoring honor back to the Wall and to our Guam Sons whose names are identified on it. To this day, we continue to receive words of gratitude and appreciation from our community both in private and in public forums.
By 2012, the Wall became forgotten and even worse, it became a public eyesore. Graffiti appeared on it and trash mounted on the ground in front of it. Veterans Day commemorative ceremonies once held at the Wall ceased. It was during November 2014 that one of our members brought to the Chapter’s attention the Wall’s plight. The Chapter’s first action was to adopt the Wall at that meeting. The Chapter’s members immediately painted over the graffiti and cleaned up the trash. Since then, the Chapter has ensured the Wall remains graffiti and litter free. The Chapter also formed community partnerships to help restore honor to the Wall. One important partnership was with the adjacent homeowner who keeps the grass in front of the Wall always mowed. Beginning with Memorial Day 2015, the Chapter began the tradition of placing an American flag in front of each name and a flag for the three sons whose name is not listed on the Wall. Since then, a flag continues to be placed in front of each name plus Memorial wreaths and American and Guam flags are hung on the Wall on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Each time we place a flag, we say the name of the Guam Son and thank him for his service and for paying the ultimate price for our freedoms. Our actions however did not negate the fact the Wall was a visual eyesore and desperately needed to be painted and restoration work was needed in order to restore to our Guam Sons the full honor they deserve.
Guam has only a short window of time when it does not rain. During February 2018, the Chapter seized the dry season opportunity and began restoring the Wall to its former glory and bringing honor back to the Wall. Almost daily the Chapter’s members were at the Wall painting. Our community partners have also been assisting us in this effort.
Through our restoration effort, Chapter members working on the Wall were reminded almost on a daily basis of just how important the Wall is to our community. Cars honked as they pass by the Wall when members were painting. Sometimes a Vietnam War Veteran would stop to thank the Chapter. Many of the Veterans walked along the Wall and would stop in front of a name. Often they told the member about the individuals identified on the Wall. Vietnam Veterans were not the only ones who stop and thank the Chapter for its restoration efforts. Family members and the community would also stop to thank us. We know of several individuals who have no relationship to the Chapter who posted the Wall’s progress and the Chapter’s efforts on their personal Facebook pages. Moreover, since the Wall’s Phase I Restoration, people now stop their cars and walk the Wall and look at the names of the Guam Sons killed in action even if a Chapter member is not present. It is during these times that we are made aware that the Wall’s symbolism is not important just to us.While we did not attain our goal to completely restore the Vietnam War Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall by Memorial Day 2018, it continues to remain our Chapter’s goal is complete its full restoration. However, on Sunday morning before Memorial Day and on the day before Veterans Day, our Chapter members place American flags in front of each name and we hang American and Guam flags on the Wall along with memorial wreaths. The visual sight that greets passing motorists is a sharp contrast from those years when it looked forlorn. We accomplished our initial goal of restoring honor back to the Wall and to our Guam Sons whose names are identified on it. To this day, we continue to receive words of gratitude and appreciation from our community both in private and in public forums.