For the fifty-eight thousand

 

 

 

By Shari Harris

Publisher

For those traveling downstream on the Big Piney River from Boiling Springs, a memorial of thirteen white crosses, two cannons and a kneeling soldier may be a familiar sight. Located on Gary Brandon’s property just north of the campgrounds, it has been faithfully kept for nearly a decade.

Gary and Susan Brandon erected the memorial eight to ten years ago. Thirteen crosses, one for each original colony, were placed in a line along the top of the river bank. A sign says “Never Forget,” and a praying soldier kneels in front of a POW/MIA flag. Cannons are located at either end of the crosses.

Gary Brandon was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968. After basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, he was sent for AIT at Fort Polk, La., where his battalion received jungle training to prepare them for Vietnam. About two weeks before they were scheduled to ship out, orders were changed and the battalion was sent to Korea, except for the officers and NCOs, who were sent to Vietnam. Brandon considered himself fortunate to spend his two years in Korea, and he mustered out as a Sergeant E5 when his time was served.

But Brandon recalls the 58,000 of his generation who did not survive Vietnam, and the hostile reception those who did survive often received upon their return. It is for this reason that the memorial was built. Susan Brandon has passed away, but Gary Brandon carefully removes the crosses to clean and repaint them each year, to replace them in the spring. He repairs damage to cannons, and raises the POW/MIA flag and the U.S. flag, which flies on a pole behind the memorial. This he does for the ones who can never see his memorial.

The piece of property on which his memorial stands is now for sale. Brandon isn’t sure if a new owner will maintain the memorial or will allow him to maintain it. But for now, it stands as a reminder for all to appreciate as they journey past it on the river.

Photos by Shari Harris