Couple treats Vietnam Memorial with the utmost respect
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SALEM -- For the past two years Arlene and John Untch have be caretaking the small plot of flowers near the Memorial Civic Center in Waterworth Memorial Park.
The garden sets off the Vietnam Veterans Memorial installed approximately 16 years ago by Amvets Post 45 in Salem.
"I noticed they looked neglected. I'm a disabled vet, 100 percent," said John Untch, a U.S. Air Force Cold War veteran. He explained that while he didn't serve in Vietnam, it was outside of his time of service. "The Vietnam veterans never really got the appreciation they deserved," he said. "That was there and it should be seen and memorialized."
The Untches, Salem residents for 50 years, took it upon themselves to plant red, white and blue petunias. They even started a paint-a-rock program with each one of the armed forces represented on them.
There are three memorial stones, "like grave markers," Untch said, "representing the branches of the military, USAF, U.S. Marines and U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. "There were no flowers, just black mulch all over the place and we thought it was just a bad representation," he added. In the past, there was no one placing decorations there."
Arlene said they go out every Sunday before the summer concerts in the park and water the flowers.
"During a drought we got out a couple of times a week to see if they need water," she said. The little stream that runs through the park provides additional water.
"We try to get the same red, white and blue flowers and purple for those who have died," she said. "As long as we're able to do it we will." She explained they decided to plant petunias because "they're a little more hearty than the rest of them.
When the couple departs for Florida in October they remove the flowers until the following May.
John said they noticed on Flag Day there was no flag.
"So we have two flags -- one for each end," he said.
lshields@salemnews.net