Watch fire: Salute to Michigan soldiers remembers state's missing and dead

Posted on Mon, May 28, 2012 : 8:30 a.m.

Watch fire: Salute to Michigan soldiers remembers state's missing and dead

By Jeffrey Smith

Florida resident James "Animal" Sharp, a Vietnam veteran, smokes a pipe before the start of "Watchfire", a ceremonial flag burning in dedication of fallen soldiers Sunday evening at the Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "I earned (the nickname) Animal in Vietnam," Sharp said. "You don't want to know why."
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com

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Florida resident James "Animal" Sharp, a Vietnam veteran, smokes a pipe before the start of "Watchfire", a ceremonial flag burning in dedication of fallen soldiers Sunday evening at the Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "I earned (the nickname) Animal in Vietnam," Sharp said. "You don't want to know why." Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com

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Previous story: Friends, family prepare to honor veterans advocate Gary Lillie over Memorial Day weekend

A crowd gathered in Ypsilanti Township late Sunday to honor Michigan's soldiers who were killed or went missing in action over the past year.

The event at the Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 7200 S. Huron River Drive, was a "watch fire."

The watch fire serves a dual purpose. Flags properly destroyed in honor of deceased veterans and soldiers, and it symbolically shows the way home to prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.

John Kinzinger, who has taken over from the late Gary Lillie as organizer of the event, said watch fires were originally used during the nights following battles to help wounded and missing soldiers find their way back to friendly lines.

Comments

xmo

Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.

Thank You for showing Americans honoring their veterans! I just love when people like Mr. Shalis talks about unjust wars. Look at his Iraq, Mr. Hussein oppressed and kills Millions. But no mention of him! Look at Viet Nam, "Uncle Ho" had no problem doing the same. How about Rawanda, Serbia, Somalia, North Korea etc! Yet Mr. Shalis wants to bad mouth the USA!

Lynn Liston

Mon, May 28, 2012 : 11:49 p.m.

I'd like to thank Jeff Smith for some great photos of this moving and solemn event. Each and every flag retired last night was given in honor of someone who served our country in a military capacity and who has now passed on, sometimes in the line of duty and sometimes after a life of civilian service. Children, husbands, wives- fathers, mothers, grandparents, and deeply cherished friends were honored and remembered. Tears and smiles were shared. It was a good remembering.

Elijah Shalis

Mon, May 28, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.

Should be still support our troops during unjust wars where civilians are killed? Vietnam, Iraq, etc.. I am conflicted about it.

Basic Bob

Mon, May 28, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.

Elijah, you need to move to a country you can support. Maybe France.

Arborcomment

Mon, May 28, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.

The web site he cites is an excellent grassy knoll, Area 51 kind of place (where they admit, it's an "estimate"). Meanwhile, wiki leaks and Wikipedia say between 116 and 129 thousand. So he's only off be a factor of ten. Figures... http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

tdw

Mon, May 28, 2012 : 9:38 p.m.

Do you have any proof of those numbers do you by chance ? didn't think so

Elijah Shalis

Mon, May 28, 2012 : 9:30 p.m.

It is up to 1.45 million dead Iaqi civilians now. Go America! http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq

Elijah Shalis

Mon, May 28, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.

Yeah thanks for killing 1.4 million Iraqi civilians. That wasn't on my behalf.

GoNavy

Mon, May 28, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.

I'm doubtful you're conflicted at all. I get the feeling that you you do not at all feel any conflict about coming on here and causing conflict; specifically, to inflame the sensibilities of the vast (VAST) majority of Americans for whom this day is the opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifices others have made on our behalf.