Chadds Ford’s mystery monument may be the first memorial in the U.S. dedicated to Vietnam veterans. Yet, no one, so far, has been found with any recollection of its dedication, and public records have revealed no information.
Research is continuing, but Duery Felton, of the National Parks Service, said the Chadds Ford memorial “is still in the lead” for being the oldest.
The monument, a cannon on a stone pedestal located on private property along Route 202 across from Hillman Drive, was dedicated Nov. 11, 1966. Felton, the curator of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial collection, began researching the situation last week and said that a memorial in Wentzille, Mo., was thought to have been the oldest. That memorial was dedicated Dec. 19, 1967, a full 13 months after the Chadds Ford monument.
The dedication plaque says the memorial is in honor of Delaware County servicemen who fought in Vietnam. This pleases some Vietnam veterans, but it also brings up many emotions, both of the war and of the monument’s current condition.
Weeds are growing through the cracks of the old Sovereign Bank parking lot, and the monument itself is in poor condition. The backside of the stone pedestal is crumbling and shows signs of vandalism and water damage. There are cracks along the stone on the front, and the florets — the decorative screw heads holding the plaque in place — have been tampered with. One is missing, and another is loose.
A handful of Vietnam veterans, members of Rolling Thunder, visited the site last week. Some want the 46-year-old memorial moved to a better location. Another wants the site turned into an historic landmark.
Butch Anderson served in Vietnam from 1970-1971. He choked with emotion when asked what the monument meant to him. It took some time before he answered.
“When I go to any memorial to veterans, I actually get emotional. I’m sad. That’s how it affects me, but when I see one especially like this, this [one] has to be moved. We’ve got to get this thing in a proper place…The brush, and everything should be cut back so nobody comes in here and tries to steal it or vandalize it.”
Chuck “Graves” Roth, who had his tour in ‘Nam from ’67-’68, said seeing the Chadds Ford memorial was “almost like finding a long lost friend…like looking at a high school yearbook.”
He said it makes him feel good that the monument was erected relatively early in the war, but that it’s “time to do the right thing. Get this into an honorable place.”
Patrick Hughes, another veteran who fought in 1967 and ‘68, has a different idea since learning of the possible significance.
“This monument could become an historic landmark, possibly being the first ever honoring Vietnam veterans. So, please, just keep it where it is. The Hineman family and the other property owner giving up a small piece of land, making it a small rest area with a bench or two [and] some shrubs and flowers,” Hughes said in a follow-up email.
The monument may have to be moved. Its location is on property that could become an entrance for a Wegman’s market that’s under consideration in Concord Township.
Ron Hineman, of Delaware County Supply, owns the property, but only learned of the monument several weeks ago. He discussed the situation with other family members, but said they’ve made no decision yet.
“We’re going to look into it, decide what the best option is,” he said.
Among those options, Hineman said, are offering the memorial to Chadds Ford or Concord Township, or even to Delaware County.
Hineman added that he checked with former employees who worked at the old Tri County Supply and even they have no recollection as to why the monument came to be.
To date, no one has come forward with any definitive information on the monument’s origin, nor has any documentation been found. Checks with the Chadds Ford, Delaware County and Chester County historical societies have come up empty, as have the archives of both the Delco Daily Times and the Daily Local newspapers.
Main photo caption: Vietnam veteran Chuck "Graves" Roth plants a medallion and an American flag At the Chadds Ford Vietnam monument. (Photos by Rich Schwartzman)
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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