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Wreaths honor Stewarts fallen
Annual ceremony helps community, family remember those lost
W4W-ONeill Family
Robert ONeill, center, his wife, Jackie, right, son, Matthew, 13, and daughter Kaitlyn, 10, came from Watertown, Tenn., to lay a wreath at the foot of the eastern redbud tree that marks the memorial to their son, Spc. Jonathan C. ONeill, who was killed in Iraq on June 15, 2009. - photo by Randy C.Murray
Randy C.Murray
Special to the News
Updated: Dec 14, 2011, 5:02 PM
Published: Dec 14, 2011, 5:08 PM

An overcast day with an occasional cool breeze was fitting weather for the fifth annual Wreaths for Warriors Walk ceremony Saturday at Fort Stewart’s Quick Track and Cottrell Field. 
Hundreds of family members and friends of fallen 3rd Infantry Division soldiers came from around the country to participate in the somber event by laying a Christmas wreath at the foot of each of the 439 eastern redbud trees that serve as a memorial to the Fort Stewart community’s fallen heroes.
“This is a labor of love for our community,” explained Col. Roger Cloutier, 3rd ID deputy commander for maneuvers and guest speaker for the event. “This is our place to honor those who gave all. Our nation has stood in awe as our ‘Dog Face Soldiers’ deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan — it’s what makes the 3rd ID special.”
Cloutier’s remarks followed a special moment of silence in memory of the fallen, then the national anthem, an invocation and a poem by Reece Bishop called “Another Tree Planted.”
“This is my first time speaking at (Wreaths for Warriors Walk), but I’ve participated in the ceremony twice before,” Cloutier later said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to just remember our fallen soldiers and honor the sacrifices made by their families.”
The former commander of the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Cloutier has been with the 3rd ID since 2004. He said he has seven soldiers remembered on Warriors Walk from his former battalion and 107 from his former brigade.
Opposite of Quick Track, the O’Neill family stood silently around the redbud tree honoring their son, Spc. Jonathan C. O’Neill, who was killed in Iraq on June 15, 2009. They traveled from Watertown, Tenn., to take part in the annual ceremony.
“We’ve come here every year,” explained Robert O’Neill, whose eyes welled up with tears after he laid the Christmas wreath at his son’s memorial, making it difficult for him to speak. “We have a memorial garden for our son at home, but (Warriors Walk) is special to us.”
“It’s almost like this is his resting place,” Robert’s wife, Jackie, interjected. “Coming here has become a family tradition at Christmas.”

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Exchange Service salutes Vietnam vets with custom truck design
Army and Air Force Exchange Service redesigned logo 2011
Bryan County News
Published: Apr 10, 2018, 1:53 PM

To thank Vietnam veterans for their sacrifices, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is debuting a new truck design, part of the Department of Defense retailer’s efforts alongside the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor veterans during the 50th anniversary of the war.

“The Exchange is privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Vietnam veterans through our fleet,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era. “These trucks will serve as rolling billboards, expressing gratitude for all who served during this era.”

The truck design features the silhouette of a lone service member set against the background of a faded horizon with a call to “thank a Vietnam veteran for service to our nation.” The single military member represents the warfighters who served during this time.

Three trucks in the fleet feature the commemorative design and will deliver merchandise to Exchange stores from the organization’s distribution centers in the continental United States.

The West Coast Distribution Center at Sharpe Army Depot in California; Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.; and the Waco Distribution Center in Texas will each have a truck in service on their standard delivery routes, serving the whole country.

Air Force veteran Pat Thompson served in Vietnam before coming to the Exchange as a truck driver and mechanic. In his 18 years with the Exchange, he has deployed four times to support the troops. The new design means a lot to him.

“They remember,” said Thompson, who is based at the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center. “We want to be remembered.”

The trucks also highlight the veteran online shopping benefit, which launched in November. The lifelong online military exchange benefit authorizes all who served honorably to enjoy tax-free shopping and exclusive military pricing at ShopMyExchange.com.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025.

The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the commemoration.

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