BadFisherman Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

There is no punishment severe enough.

https://militaryveteransofdisqus.org/traveling-vietnam-veterans-memorial-vandalized-with-hammer/

Posted May 11, 2020 Old Jarhead, by Dan Doyle

For years, a copy of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. has travelled around the country and set up in places where people who might never be able to get to D.C. could visit it and maybe get some healing and closure.

One of those traveling walls was recently given a permanent home in John’s Creek, Georgia. The John’s Creek Veterans Association has been working on the set up of the permanent memorial since last July, and was going to have a Grand Opening celebration on March 28, 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic put the kibosh on that with the social distancing and stay at home requirements that were necessary to help control the spread of this deadly virus.

The Association was shocked recently to find that vandals had keyed about half of the panels of the installation and had taken a hammer to some of the other panels. Such behavior is beyond contempt. No matter the “reason” of self-righteous bravado vandals may give for their actions, the truth is that they are self-centered, insensitive cowards. These actions were done under cover of night. No courage there. One could imagine all kinds of righteous punishments for such actions.

My first reaction to this is to hunt down and teach the idiots a true lesson, from a Vietnam Era Veteran. But the story gets better.

But Mike Mizell of the Johns Creek Veterans Association is a much more centered and thoughtful individual than I am in this case. When asked about his feelings concerning the damage done to the Vietnam Memorial with its over 58,000 names of those who fell there in service to the nation, he responded, directing his comment to the perpetrator’s with, “You didn’t hurt the structure, you hurt people.”

When asked what he would like to see done to whomever did this he simply told the reporter that “he would like whoever did this to join them in cleaning the park and taking in the history it holds.”

Mike Mizell is clearly a man with some real moral character.

My respect for Mike Mizell knows no ends. I could never be as forgiving, or as calm as he appears to be here. To me, this is simply unimaginable.

It is a fact that when bad things happen to good people, the responses they give for their hurt reveals either the quality of their character or the lack thereof. Mike Mizell and the John’s Creek Veterans Association have every right to be angry about what has happened to this treasured memorial and how it effects Vietnam Veterans and their families, but Mizell’s response clearly shows that he and his fellow John’s Creek veterans are made of far superior stuff than that of those who did this to that honored memorial.

It is the action of our better angels not just to punish those who do wrong, but to invite and to challenge the wrong doer to turn away from their selfish actions, to pay the necessary recompense for their actions, and to learn how to grow into their better selves. Mizell’s comment is rooted in that kind of “better angels” kind of thinking.

The Veterans Site sends its support and its thanks to the John’s Creek Veterans Association and the Vietnam veterans of Georgia. We hope that the repairs to the John’s Creek Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall can be done quickly and that you will be able to have your Grand Opening sometime soon. We say, “Welcome Home” to all the Vietnam Veterans and promise to never forget all our brothers and sisters who gave their last full measure in Vietnam and whose names are inscribed on that wall.

Yes, I am livid at the wastes of oxygen that did this desecration...especially as we approach Memorial Day.

https://blog.theveteranssite.greatergood.com/veterans-memorial-vandalized/?utm_source=vet-vetfan&utm_medium=social-fb&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=veterans-memorial-vandalized&utm_term=8215789&fbclid=IwAR3Izij9xOGZaWyBf-zDfxUYfHQFC8Myr3ey36cExy9Ec227tJtNSKaiABo

DB Ed Loc: Brock, Nebraska southeast ne

I am sadden by there terrible acts. It makes me angry. but I applaud Mike and the veterans for the way they handled it.I really think them a few veterans, and a dark alley would be a better solution

smitty Loc: maine

amen
semper fi

jfbanzai Loc: Menomonie, Wisconsin

As a Marine, my thoughts would be to track them down and tack their hides to the wall as a warning to others. I know I'm supposed to be more enlightened than that, but I'm not and never will be. God bless those that are. Semper Fi

wellfield Loc: Long Beach,California

I've visited the 'travelling wall' here in my area of California,a moving site indeed and the work that goes into setting it up is tremendous......I wish nothing but the worst to these hooligans & vandals

Blindman Loc: Wisconsin

As a Vietnam era veteran this saddens me greatly

Mike

USMCFisherman Loc: Beavercreek OH

It irks me no end that this was done to the VN memorial. And it "is" personal. I served with many of the people who's names are on that wall. I'd like to beat the snot out of who ever did this. But realistically, at the age of 72, I may need someone to hold them for me.If they ran, I'd never be able to catch them. LOL

BadFisherman Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

To all on the forum & particularly this topic: I will be posting several threads to commemorate Memorial Day by Friday, May 29th. They will not be political statements, but instead only to honor our fallen Brothers-In-Arms.

SEMPER FI

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

I look forward to them and will read everyone

CamT Loc: La Porte, Texas

I'm sure that they will be good reading
Maybe Bb will be In one lol

BongsonBob Loc: East Bay

When I read this, it felt like someone had taken a key and scratched it across my back. These people have exposed their real destinies-to lurk at the bottom of the "pond", just below the whale poop.

bggent204 Loc: On Lake Meade in East Berlin PA

It angers me as well; however when the vandals are caught they will probably get a slap on the wrist because they said they were sorry.
Sorry they got caught that is.
Once again criminals have more rights then law abiding people

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

If it is the Vietnam memorial or statues of our past, many do not understand that these are reminders of times we do not want to go back to in our future or our children's future. Desecrating the wall has no purpose that I can think of and tearing down statues because some think it is races is just erasing the memory that such times did happen.

The uneducated individuals that rely on hearsay to vandalized are lacking the reminders that many have died for. Teachers need to teach the truth and not let certain individuals tell them how to do their job.

As far as punishment of the offenders goes. Clean the black boards.

BadFisherman Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

All of them will entail warm thoughts of/for BadBobby. For, just as my Dad was, BB is a WWII Vet...thus of 'The Greatest Generation'.

BadFisherman Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

A couple, due to request, may be repeats from earlier this month on another thread by you, I believe...'Tanks To All That Have Served'. But, the majority will be new to the forum.