MOUNT VERNON — They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Sometimes, however, that picture is tinged with sadness. It can open old wounds or lead to reflections of what might have been.
In such situations, words can bring peace and comfort that might otherwise be elusive.
On Oct. 24, banners honoring 14 Knox County Vietnam veterans killed in action will go on display in Mount Vernon.
Clinton Township resident Tom Wise is asking residents to flood the families of those veterans with words of love, hope, and encouragement.
He plans to collect the messages into a bound booklet for the 14 families. He will also give a copy to the county libraries and the Knox County Veterans Services Office.
Family members, friends of the families, classmates, friends of the fallen, veterans, or strangers. All are invited to share a message about the lives of these brave men who served their country until their deaths.
“Please write about the laughter, fun, and good times. From your heart, share your feelings about the fallen,” Wise writes in a letter telling others about his project. “Your love and comforting words will be cherished forever.”
Wise also urges the more than 110 churches in the county to get involved.
“I’m asking each church to write a healing and comforting message of love,” he said. “Please share your love, comfort, and peace with these families of the fallen soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Messages can be sent to Wise at 9270 Westenbarger Drive, Mount Vernon OH 43050, or emailed to carletomwise@gmail.com.
He needs to receive the messages by Oct. 28 to have time to compile the booklets. He plans to present the booklets to the families before Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
Peace and comfort
Wise told Knox Pages in an email that God woke him in the middle of the night with a message to make banners.
“Since I am a Vietnam veteran, I felt He meant Vietnam,” Wise explained.
After researching, he found that 14 young men from Knox County were killed in Vietnam. Wise either knew or knew of about half of them.
Before he could put the young men’s pictures on a banner, Wise had to get permission from the families. He knew a woman whose brother was one of the 14.
He reached out and explained what he wanted to do.
“With her help, we started finding people,” Wise wrote. “Over a period of time, we found relatives of all 14. While visiting with family members here in Ohio, I knew banners would not be enough.”
That’s when he got the idea of love messages and making booklets for the families.
Wise acknowledged the project has been an emotional roller coaster for him, but, at the same time, somewhat of a healing. He emphasized, however, that it’s not about him. He is doing this for God and the families.
The banners and booklets aim to help families understand and cope with their loss, even though it’s been more than 50 years since they lost their loved ones.
Questions remain.
Would my brother have children and grandchildren? Would he have gray hair or no hair? Would he be thin or pleasantly plump?
And the reflections of what might have been. “How impressive he would have been walking his daughter down the aisle!”
“Please help me touch the families with all kinds of love and memory messages,” Wise wrote. “The peace and comfort they have long desired and deserved can only come from you and me.”
The Vietnam veterans who gave their all
Centerburg
Capt. Peter Hayden Chapman II
Danville
Pfc. David Lee Carey
Sp/4 Stephen Lynn Colopy
Sgt. Daniel Richard Hively
Fredericktown
Cpl. Robert Lester Carter
Pfc. Walter Lyman Ensign Jr.
Sgt. Guy V. (Buddy) Fearn
Sgt. William Lawrence McMahon
Mount Vernon
Pfc. Roger Dean Algire
Cpl. Wayne Eric Garven
1st Lt. Dennis Ray Kinnard
Sgt. Harlan Nathaniel Lockhart
Sp/5 Billy Lee Peters
Sp/4 Richard Louis Still
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