how much we were touched by

your tenderness,

As you enveloped us all in your arms

and your tears,

We were finally home

by conquering our fears.

Yes, we stood tall,

tears glistened

as the stories were told,

A part of us left with our

friends at The Wall.

The laughter came later,

filling our thirsty souls,

life borne without friends is

no life at all.

We are so proud of those

who left us behind and

those who returned from

that terrible time.

Your strength and your honor

has always shown through, but

most gloriously so this

past day in June.

Thank you,

just two simple words that can hardly contain

the immeasureable gratitude

for what we have gained.

For you see,

through your kind words and deeds,

we found our way through,

to a place of peace,

acceptance and truth.

Just a single red rose

placed oh so carefully so,

by a little boy

named after

Andrew Michael Simko.

Remembrance Ceremony

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Washington, D.C., June 11, 1996

West Point Class of 1953

 

In Loving Memory Of West Point Class of 1953

FREDRIC AGATHER
1 June 69 - 23 W 34

ROBERT ALEXANDER
31 October 69 - 16W 7

JOHN COOPER
26 October 67 - 28E 73

JOHN MARTIN
31 January 68 - 36E 24

MORTIMER O'CONNER
1 April 68 - 47E 35

ANDREW SIMKO
5 April 70 - 12W 98

RODNEY SMITH
3 June 67 - 21E 53

WILLIAM STINSON
3 March 69 - 30W 32

JOHN STONE BURNER
9 December 64 - 1 E 75

LAWRENCE TATUM
10 September 66 - 10E 85

ROBERT THOMAS
17 March 70 - 12W 15

CHARLES TIGHE
23 April 67 - 18E 77

FREDERICK VAN DEUSEN
3 July 68 - 53W 1

Susie Simko
Andrea Simko Ellinor