SMETHPORT – In what is to become an annual event, area
motorcyclists joined the ride Sunday which retraced the route
takenðone year agoðwhen several thousands of bikers escorted the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall from Forest County to
Smethport.

With the arrival of more than 60 motorcycles and more than 70
riders at Hamlin Lake Park, the site of the Wall’s visit, there was
theðsame sense of patriotism and respect for the sacrifices of
thousands of Americans who died in that war.ðThose same feelings
permeated the crowds who visited the Wall last year.

A Humvee from Charlie Company, 1/112th Infantry of
theðPennsylvania National Guard unit from Bradford/Ridgway,
escorted the motorcyclists on their trip from Smethport to Warren
to Pigeon and back to Smethport.

George Tufts, a retired U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant who served
in Vietnam, conducted the memorial service at the park, andðpaid
tribute to the late Sonja Covert, who initiated the request to have
the Wall visit Smethport when she was commander of the Bucktail
Post #138 of the American Legion.

When it was verified that the Wall would be coming to Smethport,
veterans from the town’sðAmerican Legion and VFW posts and other
volunteers began planning for the memorial’s five-day stay.ðDave
Ford, then the American Legion commander, chaired the steering
committee.

In his remarks, Tufts said, “Vietnam was known as ‘The Unpopular
War,’ which was opposed by a lot ofðprotesters at home.ðThe
military was ordered to Vietnam and they did a phenomenal job over
there. Our servicemen didn’t lose the war. They stopped, deterred,
delayed and encumbered the spread of communism on the
continent.”

It was the politicians who lost the war, according to Tufts.

That the military did its job is shown by the breakup of the
former Soviet Union, Tufts noted.

“The Soviet Union does not exist today due to those who honored
the call to fight. But then, when they returned home, they took
much criticism. Finally, our Vietnam veterans received the respect
they deserved.”

Sgt. Steven Jones of the Pennsylvania National Guard, who drove
the Humvee in the anniversary observance of the “Ride of Pride” on
Sunday, thanked the organizers of the ride for the invitation to
participate.

Also offering brief remarks was Smethport native Gary Kisko, a
Smethport native and staff sergeant of the U.S. Army, who is slated
to return to Iraq for his fourth deployment in August. In addition
to thanking veterans,ðheðexpressed his gratitude to the community
forðtheðsupport he has received while he has been in Iraq.

Gerry Ford, commander of the Sons of the American Legion in
Smethport and an organizer of this one-year observance of the
Wall’s visit, said, “Our veterans deserve to be honored. The price
of freedom is written on the Wall.”

The atmosphere in the park turned solemn when the recording of
“The Mansions of the Lord,” the Wall’s theme song was played.ðThe
recording of this song was played 23 times during the Wall’s visit
to Smethport, Tufts said.

Another significant activity was the release of yellow and green
balloons, the colors of the South Vietnamese flag, and black
balloons, representing the MIA/POW’s.

Near the end of the observance in the park, Tufts invited the
audience to view the memorial marker, which veterans’ groups have
placed at the apex of the Wall. “So many people dealing with so
many emotions passed this area last year,” he said.

The Rev. John Wesley, pastor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in
Smethport, offered the invocation and benediction.