Veterans celebrate Vietnam Veterans Memorial Parkway anniversary

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A local Vietnam Veterans group, the Romeos, celebrated 14 years since the naming of the road Vietnam Veterans Memorial parkway this past Tuesday.

In the summer of 2008, the Romeos asked the city of Warner Robins to have a road named after the veterans and those who died in service. Former Mayor Donald Walker and Councilman Clifford Holmes made the idea happen. The dedication took place on April 11, 2009.

William Carey, a veteran and member of the Romeos, reflects on that special day and what it meant to him.

“The naming of the road was kind of reflective of the past 40 years, at the time of people not welcoming us home and doing these things when we got back. We kind of thought ‘well we can get us a road named and still bring attention to what happened, and what we did, and what people gave their lives for,’” Carey said.

Carey said at the original dedication, many people from the middle Georgia community came out to show their support. He remembers all the planning and work that went into reading the names of the veterans from Houston, Bibb and Peach counties. He said they practiced two to three times to make sure they said the names correctly. Carey remembers that day vividly, and even has it on DVD.

“When we saw some of the families from the local area that also came to the dedication, it was really moving because that road honored their loved ones that passed,” said Carey.

Now, Carey said he’s impressed with the big sign that goes across the road — for road’s naming anniversary, he and other members gathered underneath the sign and recognized what it meant to them.

“We got together and got in a circle. We had a prayer, we spoke a moment, we played caps and then we stood and reflected on what had just happened and what we want to do, what we can do. We’ve lost people, we spoke about them,” Carey said.

The group gathers for food and community every week.. Carey said the members aren’t just Vietnam veterans, but also those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said they all have similar experiences and pains although they were in different countries.

Carey shared why he and his friends make sure to celebrate the naming of the road every year.

“We have brought attention to the 1,584 guys that have died in Vietnam; that’s some progress that we have made. We got the number out there a little bit. There’s few more people that know what we’re doing, and the new administration is in favor of doing such a memorial in the physical spot,” said Carey.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Parkway is located just off Russell Parkway near Buc-ee’s. It is just a road to some, but holds a special place in people’s hearts.

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