Vietnam Memorial Unveiled in Scotch Plains

Scotch Plains unveiled the town's new Vietnam Memorial in front of town hall to a large crowd in a ceremony on Sunday afternoon. 

Scotch Plains Zoning Officer Bob LaCosta, a Vietnam veteran himself, raised funds for the memorial along with the help of other local veterans and donors. LaCosta says it represents a long overdue thank you to those who served. 

"I think it will be a very nice tribute to the veterans who served in Vietnam, which was obviously not a very popular war," LaCosta told Patch. "When they came home, it wasn't the kind of homecoming that a lot of veterans received from other wars. It’s really about time."

The memorial includes a bronze casting of the "Remembrance of a Fallen Soldier" traditional gun, boots and helmet symbol. Three Scotch Plains residents are listed on the memorial: Charles S. Burns III, Eugene W. Hendricks and Edward M. Klaniecki. Surrounding the memorial are paving bricks that can be purchased and inscribed. 

Watch SPTV's video of Sunday's ceremony, here.

LaCosta was assigned to Vietnam in 1969 to the 165th Combat Aviation Group headquartered in Long Binh. LaCosta served as grand marshall in Scotch Plain's 2012 Memorial Day parade, agreeing on the condition that he accept the honor on behalf of all Vietnam veterans. 

"The Vietnam war is unique as the first television war for the passions and oppositions which the living room images aroused," said LaCosta in his grand marshall speech. "Images that where brought into your living rooms, on a daily basis, the look of war was on every one of those young faces. A war longer than all previous major wars of the century combined, bloodier than any in terms of the small arena involved. Answers are still being sought in the field of psychiatry because there were none on the field of battle."

Funds are still being collected for the memorial and can be made to the Township of Scotch Plains, Vietnam Memorial, attention Bob LaCosta. All donations are tax deductible.

"The only word to describe it is 'finally,'" LaCosta told Patch. "It serves as a welcome home and a thank you."