The children went before their City Council and were granted a permit for the first Veterans' Day parade the town has had since 1918. They want to say Welcome Home and Thank you. Their most powerful statement is, "That no matter the politics, Vietnam veterans didn't deserve to be ignored or treated with disrespect."
The energies and unconditional love these children have shown has grown far beyond their wildest dreams!
Many citizens, like myself, have volunteered their time and ideas to become an extension of these children. We are there to make their dreams come true. We have all worked very hard and are honored to be part of this special day--a day where No political or personal platforms are allowed. I applaud the children and their teacher for this strong stand.
The children raised monies and are flying in one of the characters that they grew attached to from the book. Bob Donnelly is from Colorado and was a scout pilot in John's unit in Vietnam. He will be the Grand Marshal.
This event has received significant media coverage in our local area and beyond. Our local ABC affiliate--KOMO--KVI radio station and the Seattle Times have been involved. We received a very exciting call from ABC Nightly News a few weeks ago. They are flying a news crew out on November 9, to cover this parade. They hope to broadcast direct from Granite Falls!
Bob Donnelly will fly in on November 9, the Sunday prior to the parade. On Monday, November 10, there will be an assembly at the school to welcome and honor Bob and all veterans. Following the parade on Tuesday, there will be a luncheon for the veterans, hosted by the children.
This has united ALL veterans, and the parade will consist of a colorguard from each branch of the military. Veterans are invited to march behind the colorguard representing the branch they served with. Whidbey Island Naval Air Station will perform a fly-over at the end of the parade. I have contacted the VA hospitals in our area and the veterans outreach programs, to insure that as many veterans as possible are aware of this day.
It will be a long, overdue, emotional and healing day for veterans and non-veterans alike. We welcome all to share this day with us.
I Remain In Faith,
Sandi Hummell
You can email with Sandi at: Pkusa@aol.com
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997
Dear Granite Falls School Children,
G'Day, From "Down Under."
Through the marvels of computers and the Internet, I have received a
post from a Vietnam Veterans List, based in The USA, that has told many
Vietnam Veterans "Down Under" of your outstanding endeavour to make a
parade for Vietnam Veterans in Granite Falls to say a very personal
"We are Proud of you and Welcome Home" on Veterans Day.
How special that you want to do this.
Most Vietnam Veterans today are old enough to be grandparents, as I am;
and whether they are American Vietnam Veterans or Australian Vietnam
Veterans, they all at one time in their lives were just as you are
today--kids at school that looked up to the many heroes that served
their countries in World War 2 or Korea, little realising that when they
got to be 19 or 20 years old, they would find themselves doing their
duty for their country in a place called Vietnam.
You can understand that any War is not a nice place to be in--WW2,
Korea, Vietnam, or anywhere else that servicemen and women have been
asked to go. There is nothing glorious about war nor the aftermath of
war.
What is glorious is that ordinary men and women, seeing their duty to
their country and their fellows, put themselves in situations, either
voluntarily or otherwise, to do whatever their country asks of them.
When...and...IF...they return home, they are called veterans, not
only because of where they have been, but also because of what they HAD
to do.
As you know, in the case of Vietnam Veterans, both in America and
Australia, Vietnam Veterans were not treated with that same honour as
others before them had been. There are many Vietnam Veterans that still
feel that what they and their mates and buddies endured was of no
consequence to those that did not go and serve.
They returned to
America and Australia and were sneered at and jeered by their fellow
countrymen. Do you know, nobody ever explained to them why that was
so. They had done their duty and then had to suffer because of it, at
the hands of those they went away to serve.
Now, after some 22 years, and in some cases 32 years later, a small group of
American Kids, who obviously believe in their country and what it stands
for in the eyes of the oppressed peoples of the world, are prepared, in
the face of that same lack of feeling and concern for those who fought
the fight, to defy that and stand up and say to their own Vietnam
Veterans, WE are proud of you and what you did for us, WE respect you
for the heroes you all are, WE want to show our faith in you and your
past, because WE are the future, and WE do not wish to turn our backs on
you as those in your past have done.
As Children, the enormity of your actions may not yet be realised by
you--it is more than just having a Parade on Veterans Day, you are
really showing Love and Respect and Honour that those Vietnam Veterans
of America have been denied for too long.
One day, in your future, you will always be able to think back and
remember your part in this Veterans Day of 1997 at Granite Falls. Then,
as now, you will know that you really did do something special and that
makes you very special in the eyes of Vietnam Veterans.
It really should make you special in the eyes of America, because by
your actions....you are.
As you live your lives, try not to loose the faith you have in your
countrymen; and I hope that your Granite Falls WA Veterans Day 1997 is
the Best veterans day ever.
God bless you Kids and all that are involved in helping you...
For all the Vietnam Veterans that will perhaps not know of your
Love...Thanks.
Carey McQuillan
"Children take veterans under their wings" by Nancy Montgomery, Copyright © 1997, The Seattle Times Company
Please view Clete Martin's Web Page with pictures of the children in class, presenting their case before the city council, the parade, and John-Michael, Patti, Bob, and Bill at:
http://www.az.com/~clmartin/gfalls.html
A wonderful tribute with pictures by Roger and Pam Young of the "Northwest Veterans Newsletter:"
http://members.aol.com/bear317/parade2.htm
From: Carey McQuillan & Krys Wade at: cmcq173@speednet.com.au
To: Granite Falls School Children at: dhowell@mystery.gfalls.wednet.edu
Cc: Sandra Hummell
Subject: A Message to Some VERY SPECIAL American Kids
Sydney. Australia.
Vietnam Veteran 1965 - 1966.
1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Group) - Attached
173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) US Army.
NOTE: The links below on this page are old and do not work anymore. This may also be true of links to email addresses. They are kept for historical reasons. (wgm April'25 )
This follow-up story appeared in the Seattle Times:
Back