While walking through Veterans Memorial Park, St. Clair Shores, MI.
A classmate of mine noticed that our "Fallen" classmate's name was not engraved on the city monument.
As a class (Lakeview High School 1967), we petitioned the Mayor, City Council, Rec Dept, VFW & Amvets to include his name onto our city memorial, dedicated to the fallen veterans.
After almost 40 years SSGT Michael Maniere's name was engraved on the Veterans Memorial, and the Monument was rededicated November 14, 2009.
Since I knew Mike "Whitey" Maniere, and the supreme sacrifice that he gave all of us, I wanted to get to know the "names" also engraved with his.
I found that my research into looking for the "names" became a bit more emotional than I expected, an I found that my project took on a new life,
I have spoken with reporters, librarians, genealogists, gravers, sextons, but the group of Vietnam Veterans that I have come in contact have given their energy to my quest, just like they have given their energy & lives for our country. So I will not abandon, what I thought was a "cute little project", until, As one of my now Vietnam Veteran friend says,
"Soon I will have them all back together again where they belong and then my work will be done."
I love that sentiment, and have used it on many occasion.
Once I am complete, I can get back to my Visiting & photographing all the Presidential Gravesites.

While walking through Veterans Memorial Park, St. Clair Shores, MI.
A classmate of mine noticed that our "Fallen" classmate's name was not engraved on the city monument.
As a class (Lakeview High School 1967), we petitioned the Mayor, City Council, Rec Dept, VFW & Amvets to include his name onto our city memorial, dedicated to the fallen veterans.
After almost 40 years SSGT Michael Maniere's name was engraved on the Veterans Memorial, and the Monument was rededicated November 14, 2009.
Since I knew Mike "Whitey" Maniere, and the supreme sacrifice that he gave all of us, I wanted to get to know the "names" also engraved with his.
I found that my research into looking for the "names" became a bit more emotional than I expected, an I found that my project took on a new life,
I have spoken with reporters, librarians, genealogists, gravers, sextons, but the group of Vietnam Veterans that I have come in contact have given their energy to my quest, just like they have given their energy & lives for our country. So I will not abandon, what I thought was a "cute little project", until, As one of my now Vietnam Veteran friend says,
"Soon I will have them all back together again where they belong and then my work will be done."
I love that sentiment, and have used it on many occasion.
Once I am complete, I can get back to my Visiting & photographing all the Presidential Gravesites.