This past weekend, the In Memory program honored 774 veterans across the nation for the sacrifices they made. The program highlights veterans who have passed away as a result of complications from tactical herbicides used during the Vietnam War, such as Agent Orange. These men and women were recognized during a special ceremony held just outside of Washington, at the Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall. And this year, one special name was added to the roll.

Walter J. Farrell was born in 1947 in Bradford and raised on a dairy farm. After high school, he was drafted into the U.S. Army on Oct. 3, 1966. He was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, and sent to Vietnam as a radio mechanic.

Farrell was wounded June 12, 1968, and honorably discharged July 5, 1968. He has been the recipient of a Purple Heart, along with many other medals and commendations.

Upon returning stateside, he married Connie Wilson on May 10, 1969. The couple have three daughters and eight grandchildren. Farrell worked as a machinist for most of his life. In June 2012 he retired from Bradford Area School District as a custodian.

Farrell was an avid NASCAR fan and loved attending races at Watkins Glen with his family and friends. A lifelong adventurer, he loved to take trips in his motor home.

He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in January 2021 and had surgery in February of that year to address the issue. Unfortunately, in May 2021 he was diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, a blood cancer.

Farrell and his wife moved to Tyrone in September 2022 to live closer to one of his daughters. He later moved to a VA home in Hollidaysburg, where he passed away Sept. 11, 2023, due to the blood cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

Agent Orange exposure has been linked to various health problems in exposed veterans and their children. Veterans Affairs recognizes 21 different cancers and health problems as presumptive diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure during military service. These include bladder cancer, Hodgkin’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and prostate cancer, among others.

Since its creation in 1993, the In Memory program has honored 7,500 Vietnam veterans who have suffered due to PTSD, Agent Orange exposure or other illnesses that have resulted from their service.

Although it was unfortunately cut short, Farrell tried to live his life to the fullest, his family and friends said, adding he is greatly missed. In his honor, daughter Melissa Schneider journeyed with her husband, Jim; son, Johnathan; and mother, Connie Farrell, to attend the ceremony held this past weekend.

On Thursday night, the program lit up various monuments with an orange light, to highlight Agent Orange exposure. On Friday evening, the group enjoyed a welcome dinner. Saturday brought the ceremony at the mobile wall and on Sunday, Father’s Day, family members were encouraged to place roses in their loved one’s honor at the wall.

Loved ones placed roses in their veterans’ honor at the wall.

Due to the parade in Washington held this weekend, the ceremony was moved from its normal location to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

“There were 774 veterans honored this year, which was the biggest group ever,” said Jim. “There were many other families there to honor their loved ones — they said there were 2,000 people in the crowd Friday night.”

Even if a veteran’s family could not make the trip to DC, they were still remembered.

“Although some veteran’s families couldn’t be there, volunteers still came up and read everyone’s names,” said Melissa. “Me and my husband both volunteered to go up and read some of the names and it was very moving.”

The Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington was lighted with an orange hue this past weekend to recognize veterans who have passed away as a result of complications from tactical herbicides used during the war, such as Agent Orange.

Connie Farrell found the trip particularly moving. She was able to make connections with other grieving family members that she found especially therapeutic.

“Mom told me that there is something specific about losing a spouse to Agent Orange so she had a hard time relating to others who had lost a spouse,” said Farrell. “It was good for her to meet other people who are going through that same pain she is living with.”

The In Memory program is part of a nonprofit organization, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

“We want to tell everyone if you know of a veteran who qualifies for this program that they should find out more information because this was a great experience,” said Jim.

“We were amazed a program like this existed so now we want to spread the word to other families,” said Melissa. “The Vietnam veterans were not given the recognition they deserved when they came home and it is important we honor what they did for our country.”

Jim and Melissa found out about the In Memory program shortly after losing Walter.

“Even if my dad wasn’t killed in action, he still lost his life as a result of the war,” said Melissa. “This program recognizes the sacrifices those veterans who died later as a result of Agent Orange or suicide due to PTSD.”

More information about the program can be found at vvmf.org or by calling Melissa at (814) 251-3680.