The developer of a planned shopping center in Concord Township wants to include the 46-year-old Vietnam monument in its Chadds Ford Township entrance area.

Carlino Commercial Development is the developer of the property that will have a Wegman’s food store as its anchor in Concord. There is a planned entrance from Chadds Ford along Route 202 across from Hillman Drive.

Peter S. Miller, president of Carlino, said it’s his company that’s planning to include the monument, not the Wegman’s company.

“We’re happy to move the monument to give it a respectful place within our public space of our development. I think it will be a perfect gathering spot,” Miller said.

He added that while Wegman’s is not financially involved with moving the monument, the company is showing its support by approving the overall plan.

The monument is currently on an adjacent parcel that is planned as part of a deceleration lane for the southeast portion of the loop road that will connect routes 1 and 202. It was dedicated Nov. 11, 1966, in honor of the Delaware County men who fought in Vietnam and is thought by some to be the first Vietnam memorial in the country.

Beyond the memorial’s dedication date listed on the plaque, no one seems to know anything about its history. Searches of three different historical societies and two newspapers have revealed no information. Part of the monument’s stone base is deteriorating from weather, neglect and, possibly, vandalism.

“We’re going to create a public green space,” Miller said. “The monument will be a focal point of that green space area.”

Steve Quigley, of Concord Towing, brought the status of the monument to public attention. He’s glad to see some action is planned, but remains cautious.

“We need to see the details of the builder’s plans,” he said in an e-mail. “Our main concern is that it stay in the township and that it be taken care of, not neglected as it has been in the past. The monument still needs to be rebuilt.”

Quigley said he thinks there’s a better location.

“Our hope is that we be able to relocate it to the township building. The monument needs to be seen by the public, it needs to be in a public area where visitors can stop by, have a place to park their vehicles and pay their respects. That's always been the goal.”

Miller will be taking some of the plans to the Chadds Ford Zoning Hearing Board on Sept. 19, seeking a variance to allow for parking in the area zoned as Light Industrial.

Photo caption: Vietnam veterans have been tending to the long-neglected monument since learning of its existence in early August. The vets have policed the immediate area by pulling weeds and planting U.S. military service flags. (Photo by Rich Schwartzman)