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Good evening. This is community Antenna television. See a TV Channel six Santa Rosa. The programming of total television of Santa Rosa's local programming department. Opinions expressed on See a TV Channel six are not necessarily those of total television of Santa Rosa or Post Newsweek Cable announced

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a tune. Four. Cinema Counting the Eighties with Rich McGlinchey coming up Next way Now the Sonoma County Public Information Office presents Cinema County in the eighties with your host, Rich McGlinchy. Hello. I'm glad you could be

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with us tonight for this edition of Sonoma County Beauties. It's a very, very important program. We're talking to two gentlemen who represent the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Vietnam Memorial. We're gonna learn more about both these things. Just a few moments. I think that you'll

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find that what they have to say not only about their time with the Vietnam Veterans Group but also with the traveling wall will be very, very important. On the left of your screen is Don Harper Gun for a long time on Fred Batuta, friend. I just

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met recently, but welcome both reviews stomach and in the eighties, and let's start out right away. My finding out a little bit about you to your on the left. There you go. First. Take the teacher, tell us a little bit about yourself, little, your background and

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how you're not involved in this particular project. How I graduated from Tufts University on a Navy scholarship back in Boston and media went out to Vietnam. I thought that was the place to go. I had to serve my country. And I ended up having four tours

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there. Three shipboard tours in the talking gulf from 65 to 68 then a team up to our shore as a naval intelligence officer acting in the field with Marines and with the Army. And, um So I had total 36 months, you know, over there. And it

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was a really dark period in my life, and I think, a dark period of life of our country. And frankly, I dealt with it when I came back by pretty much denying that experience. I became a closet vet, was not part of any veterans groups, and,

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um, the event that caused me to come out of the closet and deal with that kind of a festering wound inside my soul. It was last spring. I went over to yon feel to see the Vietnam memorial, this one that we're bringing here, and I cried

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for about an hour and, uh, my family was there. And But I knew that I liked Lansing, an old wound, that a lot of that bitterness was coming out, and it was a healing process. And I wanted to have other vets and families of vets to

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experience that same healing experience. So I wanted to dedicate myself to a project of being bringing the wall here. We've been successful work. We were on a roll. We got it coming. We're all get behind it and make it a success too. Well, what about you,

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Harper? Tell us a little bit about your background. I know some of it, but, uh, how you got involved First, I want to thank you. Reach in your program for having friend on this afternoon to share this important project with the people of Santa Rosa, Sonoma

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County. I go back a young pup out of high school, and I I had two choices either go to college or join the Marines. And fortunately, or unfortunately, I joined the Marines, and I found myself nine months later in Vietnam and I put to terrorism and

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Vietnam as a combat marine. And, um, I saw a lot of combat action in Vietnam. Fact. I lost close to 9 to 11 buddies in Vietnam, and I come from a family of military people. I have three brothers, and while I was serving in Vietnam, I

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had another brother flying B 50 twos in Vietnam. And I also had another brother who is on helicopters in the Army in Vietnam. Um, I put total 25 months in combat in Vietnam. I was nominated for the Silver Star for combat operations, and I received the

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Bronze Star with a combat V for operations in Vietnam. Uh, I was one of the fortunate ones, so that came home. I had a brother who was wounded twice in Vietnam. He was a gunner on a helicopter, and he was shot and wounded in the leg,

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used metal back to the hospital ship, sent back out to the airships, and he was shot again three months later, and he took a bullet right in his right frontal temple on his forehead and to this day he's going into the V A hospital back and

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forth to have reconstructive surgery done on his forehead. Um, I take him down to the V a hospital about every month. So I am. I kind of have a personal experience in Vietnam with myself and my brother. And, uh, I saw what it did to me

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and and my parents and other families. And like Fred, when I came back home, I shut being Vietnam behind me and I continue Teoh, go back to college, pursue my professional career and was fortunate enough to come to work for the county eight years ago. And

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I didn't say anything about Vietnam. Two people. I work with two friends like Fred. Until a year ago, Fred approached me. Another combat veterans. I wanted to know if we want to get involved bringing the memorial to Santa Rosa, and it's my personal tribute and my

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family tribute to Teoh. Bring this type of project to Santa Rosa, but we'll have you both served your time in hell for sure. And it's just wonderful that you're working with this project. Did you say you're using this therapeutically, too? Because it's helping you both, Obviously,

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because we're helping bring this and the horror of that conflict and, uh, the absolutely lousy way in which this country responded to the veterans over there, uh, to everybody's attention right now. And things are being done. Things are changing that. Thank God for that. Uh, Fred,

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what's the purpose of the traveling wall? Well, there are six purposes that we have set forth as a chapter. First, we want to simply pay homage, a tribute to the 58,000 American men and women who did not come back. Second, we want to give veterans in

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the community on opportunity by working through their grief in the wall, too. He'll psychological and emotional wounds that for many of them never have healed. Third, we want to give the families off those on the wall a chance to publicly recognized the ultimate sacrifice that their

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sons and daughters and fathers uncles made because the war was so unpopular that that public part of the grieving process and recognition of the community never was given at the time that these men died. Fourth, we want to give the whole community an opportunity to pay

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recognition to those who didn't come back and to those who did come back but were never recognised. My, my, the American people. That that, I would say, is by the creators of the wall is something that has been common to all communities. We wanted also to

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go two steps beyond that and one through a broad community outreach program. Have veterans talk to professional service organizations s so that the, uh, realities of the Vietnam War and hopefully the lessons we can learn from that war I brought home to the whole community toe

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all citizens. And and finally, we want to counter act Rambo and other currently popular movies which tend to glorify war and to grossly misinterpret what Vietnam was all about. Grossly. Uh, how much money is needed to bring the Vietnam Memorial wall are traveling world of Santa

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Rosa. And one of the dates that you expected to be here It will be okay. Thank you for asking that a rich we are anticipating. Ah, asking for $15,000 from the business people from the community, from the municipalities and from all governmental officials and to any

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private citizen throughout Sonoma County. We feel that we can bring a first class first cabin project job for the price of $15,000. We are currently in our funding phase right now, which will continue until the wall gets to Santa Rosa. And, um, we feel if we

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can't get the $15,000 we can do the project for, like, $11,000 rich. But to do it properly todo 1st 11 job I think the really you know to really demonstrates Noma County is really a great place to have this type attribute. We need $15,000. Basically $5000

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is going for a support costs to bring the staff here to to Santa Rosa to put the wall up. They will also be we also plan to bring the young people venture. It's veterans here in Santa Rosa, perhaps, and also invite the families of the 86

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people killed here locally to a special memorial service in Santa Rosa. So if if you talk about transportation costs and bring in the students in which is important concept, which Fred talked about, it's an educational learning experience itself. We feel $15,000 is we can do a

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dynamite job for Santa Rosa due to drop properly. Sure, sure, I know you have a field concerning the traveling wall that we're going to show right now, and we're We're not apologizing, but we can't guarantee the technical quality. It's a little off on the film, but

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the film is going to be shown right now and, uh, well wrote. And maybe you will. Can I sit here with me and we'll enjoy share? All right. This half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was the concept, design

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and actual construction of John Devitt, Gary Haber and Norris Shears, three Vietnam veterans from San Jose, California In November of 1982 John attended the dedication of the memorial in Washington, D. C. And came away from that experience with a considerable change in attitude and outlook, which

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he attributed directly to his contact with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He had a deep desire to somehow share that experience with the thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families who might never afford the opportunity to travel to Washington and experienced the same positive benefits that he

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had derived from his own visit to the memorial. Originally, after spending a week in Washington photographing each individual panel. Photographic enlargements were tried as the way to reproduce the wall. But the results prove to be unsatisfactory. Rather than just wanting to show people a large photograph

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of the memorial, it was their desire to give to people the actual power and impact of the wall in Washington. After several weeks of searching for a method to accomplish this task, soak screening was suggested as a possible means. Jan's Drugs, the president of the Vietnam

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Veterans Memorial Fund in Washington, who knew of John's plans, was contacted and asked with a loan of the same negatives that were used to make the stencils for the sandblasting technique on the wall. Jan sent the negatives as well as a set of blueprints, with the

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only stipulation being at John Return and negatives. In a couple of weeks, Dave Water of Los Altos, California, was instrumental in reading the blueprints and designing a system whereby the wall could be a portable and free standing structure. What started as a weekend project with 30

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volunteers turned into two years of hard work and many frustrating ins. But because of their firm commitment, the moving wall was finally completed in October of 1984 currently containing 58,022 names. Each name has been soak screened onto the plexiglass panels using an epoxy based ink so

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that the letters are slightly raised, thereby allowing people to actually touch and feel each name. Like so many visitors to the memorial in Washington touch and feel the names of the individuals they love. Standing six feet in height and stretching 250 feet in length, the moving

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wall has been displayed in various cities and locations since its initial display in Tyler, Texas. The display sites have included parks, both urban and rural shopping centers, parking lots, the beach and a national cemetery. A park like setting has usually been favored for aesthetic qualities and

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for being more conducive to private thoughts. But the power and impact of the memorial remains the same regardless of the location. This replica has been an extension of the positive benefits that hundreds of thousands of people have walked away with from the memorial in Washington, able

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to carry on in their lives with a new and positive outlook. It has proven that we must never forget Vietnam, and we must remember the willing sacrifices so many Americans have made and continue to make for our country and see to it that this willingness is

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never again abused. I was there yesterday to, you know, saw a number of people who had relatives on the wall, and I saw people morning and, you know, it seems like it really gave them opportunity. Do that. So I think it's great for lots of reasons.

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I think it's really important. I think it allows my generation somewhat feel, you know, what really did go on so we can remember. So this won't ever be repeated again. I think it's really imperative. Whoever put this together, I really commend them. Thanks. I really mean

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it. There's a great monument in Washington. People ought to go and see that people can't go and see that. So if you could move this around the country and let folks see even this, I think it's magnificent. I think it's probably in the best things we

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could do for the country. I sincerely mean that, you know, because I could never have gone back to Russian in D. C and saying this, uh, now my Children get to see it. My grandchildren is. It's sad. It hurts. The pain never goes away. But it

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it's fantastic. I mean, it's a wonderful thing. Very, very appreciative on the work in the effort that the young man is put into it. It's really sacrifices that a lot of young men made for this country and that, um, it will show the people that touch

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it, see it. And if it doesn't move them, then there's really something wrong with him. And there's not a lot of American patriotism in them. Um, you got almost 60,000 young men there. You got Einstein's. You've got Beethoven's You've got people that sacrificed their careers for

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America. And, uh, I think that kind of just about says it all for me, it's quite moving. Got? Yeah. Did you have a chance at all to go to Washington? Never. You don't. When was your son killed? What year was 19? 68. That was around the

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defensive. Really? From rough time. Bad in the marine. Uh, okay. If that film it doesn't say something to your heart, there's something wrong with you. Uh, one thing we didn't clear with you just before. How about the dates it's going

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to be here. The traveling wall. OK, I couldn't agree more every time I watched that film it. So the emotional piece, the moving raw plans to be, uh, Senators, a junior college on March 19th through March 31st. And as you can see through the film, what

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makes it a very special event is that it's gonna be located on the grass if it's centers a junior college rather than a public parking lot or a type of facility. Uh, we are requesting people who would like to donate toward our memorial wall from many

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rich. They could send their checks to Vietnam Memorial Fund peel P o Box six so six Santa Rosa 95402 Vietnam War Fund Oil Fund P o box 66 Santa Rosa 9540 to 9502 P o box six or 6.5 for two. Uh, do it. Can you tell

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us what cities the wall has already been to now? The first visit was entire Texas. It's been human. Arizona Good old Tyler. Don't, right. Anchorage, Alaska, Juneau, Alaska It's been a patient came to heroes in Ukiah, spring of last year. Santa Barbara, California, Riverside, Hollywood. In

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fact, it's gonna be a Hollywood California, right before it comes here to Santa Rosa. And also, I believe you know as well as for banks truly is a travel involvement. Yes, it. And when it leaves here, it's going to Houston, Texas, Constable, Pennsylvania and Chicago. So

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it is truly going nationwide. You bet it is. What type of activities were planned for the 12 day period? Here For it. Well, we're gonna have a memorial service which we invite all citizens and community come out to, uh, it's gonna be Saturday, the 22nd of

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March on the grounds that J. C. Campus. We also are going to be inviting various church groups to have special memorial services, whether the affects want to get together and Protestant so on. Um, we also will be having community outreach projects through the schools were trying

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set us a goal to bring every high school student in the county here. If we are successful in their fundraising, we hope to provide the necessary supplemental funding because we've been told by the school district's they don't have enough money to provide the bus transportation, but

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there for the project. So if we can raise enough money, will have official field trips where the kids will come have a chance to see the reality of the wall, go inside the Burbank Auditorium and see perhaps about a 45 minute film on the Vietnam War

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effect. We have an exit one called Vietnam the 10,000 Day War on, then have a little rap sessions. Just talk with veterans Toe. Let these kids know that are soon going to be draft age. That war is not Rambo, and I think I should mention this

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time that why were emphasizing the outreach toward the young kids in the schools is the average age on at Wallace 19 just one year out of high school. Three of those educational activities. Also, that your is that some of those plans educational as well. We have

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a veteran speaking group that's going to be going out and helping to conduct beautiful. Actual classes will be in lecturing in the high schools prior and during the wall while it's here, and also, with the assistance of Professor a cliff hotter, there's gonna be a special

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six week course on the Vietnam War. And it's gonna be an evening course one night a week, three hours for six weeks. And that's gonna be in April and May after the walls here. So if people come and are hopefully motivated to learn more about that

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war, they're gonna have an opportunity to do so. Let's breathe. Don't as a to tour that the Marines in Vietnam, what do you hope the public will gain from this experience of seeing traveling wall? Okay, I think every veteran has their own perception of your own

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message that they would like to bring to these snow. My county and the people that come visit the wall minus is one of finally paying respects and welcome home to the 58,000 people who did not have a chance to come home like Fred and myself. Another

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vets and pay homage to the 58 people here locally who died in Vietnam and secondly, is to perhaps pass a message to snow my county. I've been through the rough part of combat, and perhaps if we can, uh, think of other solutions to problems rather than

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going to war, and I want O make a comment. And I've got another question. Go ask both of you right quick. But I got a comment to make and that was it. I was in a war many, many years ago. Still called quote quote Popular war.

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There is such a damn thing. But nonetheless, when we came home, we were greeted with them flags and parades, everything else and I, for one, I feel emotional about it, too. I'd like to apologize on behalf of most of us who went to war, and we're

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honored. When we came back, it was a lack of water. We've given the Vietnam, uh, with your experience in Vietnam, and I know how touching this is, do you? What message would you like to convey with the Project Incident County? Well, that was a really tragic

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waste of life material. And we should do all that we can to see that war really is a thing of the past. But particular lessons of Vietnam War is in a democracy. We, the people convey a speak a special sacred trust to our elected leaders. And

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in Vietnam, especially President Johnson and President Nixon. They violated that sacred trust. They lied to the American people. They lied to the fighting men and women in uniform. And that type of betrayal I should never be permitted toe happen again. Well, gentlemen, I don't think one

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final thing I'd like you to give that address. Where, ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be here, and we want you to address your donations. If you could possibly do so to this cause because very, very work while we do want to have the wall

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here. Well, you want to do a first class job? We want to try to do a belated job of honoring our old Vietnamese Vietnam veterans. Done. Would you get that address again? Where they could be glad to. Please send your your checks to Vietnam Memorial Fund.

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Peel box six. So six Santa Rosa. 95402 Okay. Okay. Well, that's our program for now. Very, very emotional. One for me and for both of these fellas. Way Thank you for your attention. And we sincerely hope that you do contribute to the Vietnam Memorial Fund because

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we would like to do as I said a moment ago. A good job of watering people with fellow to honor properly before Harper tries to see you. Thank you. Nice to meet you rich. And we hope view on all other systems of cinema. County will come

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to the J. C to see the morning when it's sure your I will assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the program is Sonoma County. In the eighties, we've been talking to Vietnamese Vietnamese. I keep saying Vietnam veterans, Don Harper and rectitude and I'll be back with you

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next week. Another member of the county government family Until that so long. A lot of good luck to each and every one of Sonoma County in the eighties is a production of the Sonoma County Public Information Office. This program is being produced as a public service

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by Total Television of Santa Rosa for Channel 22. Be sure to join us next week. Same time, same channel for another edition of Sonoma County in the 80