OF THE THREE WARS LISTED, WWII WAS AN ALL-OUT WAR WITH BROAD NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. IT IS A WAR WHERE MOST OF OUR ARMED FORCES WENT OVERSEAS IN UNITS AND STAYED WITH THOSE UNITS BUILDING COMMON TIES THAT I'M SURE HELPED MANY WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT HAVE COME HOME. WHEN THE SURRENDER TOOK PLACE OUR TROOPS CAME BACK IN THOSE SAME UNITS. AS THOSE OLD ENOUGH WILL RECALL, THEY WERE RECEIVED WITH ACCOLADES AND HONORS. A GRATEFUL GOVERNMENT MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM THE 52/20 CLUB, WHICH TRANSLATES TO $20 A WEEK FOR 52 WEEKS. IT GAVE MANY A CHANCE TO UNWIND AND HAVE TIME TO SETTLE BACK INTO A CIVILIAN LIFE. A GENEROUS GI BILL ALLOWED MANY TO FIND THEIR WAY INTO A BETTER LIFE AND TO PROFITABLE CAREERS. THEY TRULY BECAME THE GREATEST GENERATION.

SADLY MANY DID NOT COME HOME. IN THAT WAR THE FISHER AND FISH FAMILIES AND HANCOCK LOST A NATIVE SON, PFC GEORGE FISHER. HE WAS KILLED IN ITALY JUST AS AN ARMISTICE WENT INTO EFFECT. HE IS THE FIRST OF TWO GOLD STAR SERVICEMEN ON OUR PLAQUE. THE COVERED BENCH TO MY LEFT IS BEING DEDICATED TO HIS MEMORY. WAYNE FISHER, THE SON HE NEVER SAW IS WITH US TODAY TO REPRESENT THE FAMILY AND TO HELP HONOR HIS FATHER.

THE SECOND OF THE THREE CONFLICTS IS THE SO-CALLED POLICE ACTION IN KOREA. TO THOSE BRAVE SOULS WHO SUFFERED AND DIED THROUGH IT, IT WAS NOTHING BUT A BLOODY WAR. THIS IS THE FORGOTTEN WAR. OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND COASTGUARDSMEN WHO SURVIVED CAME HOME WITHOUT PUBLIC WELCOME AND ATTENTION. THEY SIMPLY RETOOK THEIR PLACES IN SOCIETY, AND BUILT THEIR LIVES ANEW, THOUGH MANY WERE LEFT WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES. MANY HAVE FELT, WITH JUSTIFICATION, THAT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THIS MONUMENT WILL HELP PERPETUATE OUR MEMORY OF THEIR SACRIFICES AS WELL AS THOSE OF THEIR LOVED ONES AT HOME WHO ALSO GAVE SO MUCH.

THE THIRD PORTION OF OUR PLAQUE LISTS HANCOCK MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THAT UGLY ACTION IN THE JUNGLES, AIR AND WATERS OF VIETNAM. I CALL THAT THE LONELY WAR. AS TIME WENT ON, OUR MILITARY WERE FED INTO THE COUNTRY PIECE-MEAL, OFTEN ONE AT A TIME. MANY ARRIVED UNNOTICED AFTER A LONG, LONELY CHARTER FLIGHT TO SERVE THEIR YEAR IN COUNTRY. THEN, A YEAR TO THE DAY, MANY WOULD DEPART UNNOTICED ON A LONG, LONELY RETURN FLIGHT. MANY ARRIVED HOME WELCOMED ONLY BY THEIR LOVED ONES. MANY HAD SPOUSES AND CHILDREN WHO WERE RIDICULED AND BELITTLED BECAUSE THE SERVICE MEMBER FOUGHT IN AN UNPOPULAR WAR. MANY DID NOT GET THE HELP THEY NEEDED SO DESPERATELY. WE MUST BE SURE THAT WE NEVER SEND OUR MILITARY INTO SUCH A QUAGMIRE AGAIN.

IT WAS IN THIS WAR THAT ANOTHER HANCOCK SON WAS LOST. HE WAS A. BAYARD RUSS, WHO DIED FLYING COMBAT MISSIONS OVER VIETNAM. HIS MOTHER, MRS. FRANCES RUSS, AND HIS SISTER, MRS. PRISCILLA RUSS MALCOLM ARE WITH US TODAY AS WE HONOR BAYARD. THE BENCH TO MY RIGHT WILL BE DEDICATED TO HIS MEMORY.