February 1, 2017 - The Vietnam Peace Accord of 1973 was recognized on January 27, 2017 as VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary members gathered on the Historic Shelby County County Courthouse lawn at the Shelby County Veteran's Memorial.
Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, led the ceremony and and Cynthia Islas, Chaplain, gave the opening prayer.
"The Paris Peace Accord ending the Vietnam War was signed 44 years ago today in 1973, and was followed by the withdrawal of the remaining American troops, and the terms of the accord called for a complete ceasefire in South Vietnam. It allowed North Vietnamese forces to retain the territory they had captured, it provided for the release of all United States prisoners of war, and it called for both sides to find a political solution to the conflict. As an enticement to South Vietnam, President Nixon offered US airpower to enforce the peace terms. Unfortunately, this was stopped in December of 1974 when Congress cut off all military aid to South Vietnam."
Hume stated more than 58,000 Americans gave their lives in the Vietnam War and there are still 1,618 missing in action.
"At this very time, at this very minute, we have POW/MIA accounting teams continuing to search around the world wherever there are missing Americans whether they're from the Vietnam War, World War II, Korea," said Hume.
Hume said nine of Shelby County's sons were lost in the Vietnam War and in memory of their sacrifice, their names were read aloud. Reading their names were Mary Fausett, Becky Maidic and Mike Langford.
Ted Wayne Adams, killed in action November 15, 1966; William Larry “Shorty” Andrews, killed in action February 16, 1967; Jimmy D. Barnett, killed in action March 26, 1968; Mac Curtis Buckley, killed in action July 5, 1968; Larry Steven Byford, killed in action June 23, 1967; Ray Chatelain, Jr., killed in action July 30, 1967; William Henry Eaden, killed in action November 12, 1965; Jerry Lynn Hughes, killed in action July 12, 1967; and Taylor D. Johnson, killed in action January 28, 1966.
The Memorial wreath was then placed by the family of William Larry “Shorty” Andrews. Those family members included Andrews sister, Janie Graves, and brothers Pete and Russell.
TAPS was then played at the completion of the ceremony.
