VIETNAM
VET REUNION IN ALABAMA
"Welcome Home Brothers and Sisters" was the theme
of a recent gathering of Vietnam Vets near Mobile, Alabama.
Registration started at noon on July 26th and the event lasted through
Sunday, July 29th, and was open to any and all veterans who served
during the years of the Vietnam War. Donations were accepted to fund
programs conducted at VA facilities in Alabama, Mississippi and
Florida. The rendezvous point was at Chickasabogue Park in Saraland,
Alabama. LINDA*&*JEANIE, "The Hilltop Singers", a USO show,
performed each evening for two hours on a covered outdoor stage with an
American Flag hanging on either side and a backdrop - a larger American
Flag hanging on either side and a backdrop - a larger American Flag -
torn, tattered, and faded, which was borrowed from a museum in
Washington D.C. - the last flag to fly over Khe-Sanh. The Flag was
flown throughout the attack (Tet offensive) on Khe Sahn.
A Gulf Coast Bar-B-Que was held following the show
and it was a time of fellowship for a bunch of good folks, with their
families, sharing with each other, helping each other, enjoying each
others company and enjoying the music from the '60's and '70's as sung
by LINDA*&*JEANIE.
LINDA*&*JEANIE, THE HILLTOP
SINGERS, are two sisters who made several USO tours during the Vietnam
War. They were part of a special memorial ceremony recently in Mobile,
Alabama, for those who died in Vietnam and those who are still missing
in action. This memorial service was held on Saturday, July 28th, at
noon to honor the more than 58,135 Americans who gave their lives and
the more than 2,440 Americans still listed as missing in action. On the
Mobile/Baldwin County Memorial - the names of 143 men from Mobile
County and 32 men from Baldwin County who were killed in Vietnam are
engraved on the granite. Many Vietnam Veterans and friends met and
shared tears as they built this Memorial - leaving a part of their
souls in the heart of this Memorial and LINDA*&*JEANIE could
sense their spirit and expressed it in the song "IN SPIRIT AT THE WALL"
- as written by Jeanie and performed by the duo each
evening. 
A military honor guard attended and a wreath
placement ceremony took place at the Battleship Park - home of the
lower Alabama Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Battleship Alabama, and
"Calamity Jane" (a B52 that flew numerous missions over Nam).
LINDA*&*JEANIE carried the wreath and once it was placed
securely, they turned and faced the crowd and sang taps acapella. Many
have said that they never heard a more beautiful rendition to a tune
that is so frequently heard during military life.
As the weekend drew to a close, such a warm
feeling filled our hearts. The joy of fellowship will long be
remembered, and we look forward with anticipation to being a part of
this get-together next year in Alabama. These wonderful people in
Alabama give new meaning to the phrase "Southern Hospitality".
Page
updated December 2008