Photos for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Website

Normally, you'd find me on a rant about the Second Amendment, and in future blogs, I'll get there. I've had, though, an interesting 2011.

For whatever reason, as we bounce around like ping pong balls, we bump into a situation that leads to an encounter, that leads to a challenge, that leads to an opportunity. In early 2011, I had occasion to visit the memorial that Bethel Park constructed to honor every veteran of every war who lived in Bethel. I noticed that my Dad, my Uncle Al, and Uncle George, my brothers Ray and Ron and Jim, and my name as well, weren't on the granite monoliths. There were two other names missing, too, and I'll tell you about them in a bit.

I inquired at the borough office why the DeLallo boys were missing, and was surprised to find that while a donation had been made, the engravers missed us all. Dad, Uncle Al, and Uncle George are gone, as is my little brother Ronnie. They all survived war, but a car crash killed Uncle Al, strokes killed Dad and George, and Ronnie died at 52 from pancreatic cancer. Ray, Jim, and I are left.

As things can generally get complicated, in the midst of getting our family name on the memorial, I heard an offhanded comment about "we found Jack Kelly." I told councilman Mark O'Brien that I knew Jack, and his brother Jim. Another name came up, Jeff Walsh. I knew Jeff from high school days, and I remembered when both Jack and Jeff died in battles in Vietnam. It was my honor to speak on behalf of my family members, and Jim Kelly and Jay Walsh also memorialized, after so many years, their brothers. That was on Memorial Day of this year. 

Well, that's likely enough build up. During all of this, I met a lady named Carol Haberchak. Carol's story was like a punch in the stomach. She lost more in Vietnam than most folks, and had been and is now, working with the VVMF (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund). Carol's story is long, and its heartbreaking, worthy of three boxes of tissues. I wept very unashamedly when she told me about losing her two greatest loves in two days, and a third friend who was killed in Vietnam as well. Carol is on a quest, a mission. She's so dedicated to that mission that VVMF has named her an Ambassador for our region. Trust me, that is high praise, and doesn't begin to describe how much she puts into her mission, her quest, her remembrance.

So what's the mission? VVMF is trying to secure a photo of every one of the 58,272 men and women who appear on the Wall, so that she may help VVMF post those photos to the VVMF virtual wall. There are several stories of this effort, and I'd like you visit http://www.vvmf.org/ 

Obviously, you can donate to the effort, but for today, for right now, we need those photographs. It will help to bring closure, using the Wall that Heals.

Please contact the Patch, or use the website. The Patch will forward your info to Carol Haberchak, Ambassador, VVMF.