39 years later, a military burial
Air Force honor guard members carry the remains of Maj. Perry Jefferson during burial services at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, April 3, 2008 in Arlington, Va. (AP | Kevin Wolf)
A photo from 1968 shows then-Capt. Perry Jefferson, left, discussing security with Army Capt. Kent Brown, also of Denver, at Phan Rang Air Base in Vietnam. (Special to the Post)
ARLINGTON, VA — Thirty-nine years to the day from when he disappeared in Vietnam, Colorado's Maj. Perry Henry Jefferson today received a burial with full military honors.
Family, a contingent of Vietnam veterans and retired members of Colorado's Air National Guard 120th Fighter Squadron commemorated Jefferson under a leaden sky with a cold wind whipping.
More than a dozen veterans clad in leather jackets rode motorcycles to the service.
"Maj. Jefferson honored the flag," said Chaplain Col. Ret. Victor Hoops, who served with Jefferson 39 years ago.
Jefferson was the last member of the 120th Fighter Squadron missing in action in Vietnam.
His remains were turned over to U.S. officials nine years ago by a Vietnamese national living in California, who reported that his mother had brought them with her when she immigrated to the United States.An honor guard member stands by the casket of Maj. Perry Jefferson as mourners gather around at the end of burial services at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, April 3, 2008 in Arlington, Va. (AP | Kevin Wolf)
Jefferson's grave lies a few feet from one with multiple soldiers killed in World War II. Next to Jefferson's grave is that of a man killed in Iraq in June 2007.
Those who meet me.......
We made a Promise we wouldn't Allow the same Failed Policies to happen again, well Nation Quickly forgot the Promise, us Vets Didn't, Nation won out and Cheered On Another Needless Invasion and Occupation, now into it's Sixth Year!
Sadly I've had a vision in my mind since the War Drums started beating and many of us were saying what was to come. That vision is Another memorial to the Fallen of Iraq and Afganistan, built Facing our "Wall" making a Corridor for the Visitors and Mourners to Walk Between. Made of a differant shade of marble, facing "The Wall' and slightly higher than, with the names of All 'The Fallen', not only the counted In-Country Fatalities but those who Die as a Result of their Service to Country, a Country that quickly forgets them, the Suicides, the Unknown Causes, any related result of these 'Wars Of Choice'!!
“ Every war, when viewed from the undistorted perspective of life's sanctity, is a "civil war" waged by humanity against itself."
- Daisaku Ikeda
BODY OF WAR: The True Story of an Antiwar Hero
OPENING SOON IN DC / NYC / BOSTON
WASHINGTON, DC
Begins Fri, April 4
Landmark's E Street Cinema
555 11th St NW (enter on E St b/w 10th & 11th St)
+ click for tickets & showtimes+
+ Q&A with Phil Donahue & Tomas Young - Friday Night+
* * * * *
NEW YORK
Begins Weds, April 9
IFC Center
323 6th Avenue (@ W 3rd St), Manhattan
+ click for tickets & showtimes+
+ Q&A with Donahue & Spiro - Weds & Saturday Nights +
* * * * *
BOSTON
Begins Fri, April 11
Kendall Square Cinema
1 Kendall Square, Cambridge
+ click for tickets & showtimes+
+ Q&A with Phil Donahue - Friday Night +
* * * * *
More Nationwide Theatrical Openings at Body Of War
"Best Documentary of the Year" - National Board of Review
"This is a film about guts, over there and back here. Born on the Fourth of July and Coming Home for a new generation."
Sean Penn
Tomas Young, a 26-year-old veteran, was shot and paralyzed after serving 5 days in Iraq. His story is told in the critically acclaimed antiwar feature documentaryBody of War, produced and directed bylegendary talk show hostPhil Donahueandaward-winningfilmmaker Ellen Spiro. The film features two original songs byEddie Vedderof Pearl Jam.
Body of War is an intimate human drama wrapped in a political documentary -- full of angst but also humor and hope.As the paralyzed veteran Tomas deals with his disability, he evolves into a new person, finding his own passionate voice against the war.Body of Waralso captures the historic debate in the Congress in the fall of 2002 authorizing the war and celebrates those that stood up against the rush to invade.
+ Running time: 87 minutes +
“ Every war, when viewed from the undistorted perspective of life's sanctity, is a "civil war" waged by humanity against itself."
- Daisaku Ikeda
Wow
It's hard to imagine we are still laying to rest the remains of men who fought in Viet Nam. Any idea of how many still have not been recovered?
I Was Thinking
about that today, haven't checked in a long time, do know CDR Austin, the MIA/POW bracelet I wear hasn't been found yet.
And it isn't only American MIA's, their still searching and finding the remains of Vietnamesse, in their own country, thousands are still missing!
“ Every war, when viewed from the undistorted perspective of life's sanctity, is a "civil war" waged by humanity against itself."
- Daisaku Ikeda