Source: Standard-Examiner, Ogden, UtahAug.迷你倉庫 08--OGDEN -- John Cole and Jay Wells would love to work their way out of this particular job.The two men have accepted the responsibility of making sure the Purple Heart Memorial outside the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home is up to date, with the eventual goal to list the names of all Purple Heart recipients in the state of Utah.Both men -- Purple Heart recipients themselves -- say they'd love to reach a point where they never have to engrave another name on granite."That's what we're praying for," said Wells, finance officer for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Utah, Chapter 995."And we hope we live long enough to see it," added Cole, senior vice commander for the chapter.The two men long for the day when ceremonies like the one held Wednesday are no longer necessary. But for now, at least, they'll continue to seek out the names of Utah's wounded warriors, then add them to the memorial on the grounds of the Ogden veterans home.On Wednesday afternoon, another 232 names were added to the monument with a brief dedication ceremony and unveiling of two new granite panels.That brings the total to eight two-sided panels arranged in a semicircle -- all filled with names of Purple Heart recipients from the state of Utah.Despite these latest additions, there are hundreds more names to add."We still have 495 names to add, that we know of, after these," Wells said. "We had it down to 452, but it's gone up by another 40."What's more, they received another four or five names on Wednesday at the ceremony. And Cole estimates there could be another 1,000 names of Purple Heart recipients out there, yet to be discovered.Paul R. Wach, 66, of Layton, is one Purple Heart recipient whose name was added to the monument this time around. While stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base in Vietnam, Wach was wounded in the legs by mortar shrapnel on Halloween night 1964."First they started blowing up the airplanes, B-52s. We could hear them 'walking' the mortars in, closer and closer," Wach said, using the term for gradually dialing in the proper distance. "Then when they figured they blew up enough儲存airplanes, they started walking the mortars in on us."Wach said it's nice to finally receive recognition on the monument."It really is special," he said.Tim and Fay Dolan, of Roy, were at the ceremony to recognize the addition of their son's name to the monument. U.S. Army Specialist Daniel G. Dolan was killed in action Aug. 27, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq, when the M1126 Stryker armored fighting vehicle he was driving hit an improvised explosive device."Finally," said Tim Dolan, who had been disappointed that his son's name hadn't made the monument at a past ceremony because of a lost-paperwork error."We came last (time), and I was quite upset," he said. "It was a big disappointment."Tim Dolan said the only thing he can do for his son now is to make sure that no one ever forgets him, and to try to help his son's fellow soldiers. The Dolans organize a motorcycle charity ride every August in their son's name."It's what Danny would have wanted," Fay Dolan said. "To remember him, and to help others."John Cole said the Ogden chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart will dedicate more granite panels next Aug. 7, adding more recipients' names.Cole says the granite and polishing are donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they're able to get the engraving and installation at a discount. Still, he said, it costs $35 per name for the engraving.The Ogden Purple Heart chapter is accepting donations for the monument. Donations are tax-deductible, and all proceeds go to the engraving and installation of additional granite panels. Mail tax-deductible donations to: Military Order of the Purple Heart, 3266 N. 1325 West, Ogden, UT 84401.For Purple Heart recipients, it's a sort of love-hate relationship with the military decoration."Believe me, it is not the decoration any of us ever went, 'Hey, company commander, I want one of those today,' " Wells explained at Wednesday's ceremony. "It's one none of us ever wanted -- but none of us will ever give it up."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at .standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Services新蒲崗迷你倉
- Aug 09 Fri 2013 11:26
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Ceremony unveils two new granite panels at Purple Heart Memorial
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