“ROCKY”

Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Alexandria, VA

November11, 2000

Mayor Donley

Councilman Speck

Mrs. Stephen Henry Former Miss America 2000; Heather French

Steve & Curtis Versace

Families of each of the 62 Vietnam Veterans we honor today

You many Veterans here today

Fellow members of the Long Gray Line — especially those of you from the class of 1959

Friends

Welcome everyone. And Happy Veteran’s Day. A day when, here in Alexandria, and all across this land, we take a moment to pause...

· To remember that “freedom isn’t free”...

· To think about, and to honor, the men and women —sons and daughters of America — who served, and fought, and died so that we... and our children.., and our children’s children.., might live our lives in a land of “freedom and justice for all”.

It’s a special treat for my wife Judi and me to be with you here in Alexandria today. A city where we lived at 3 different times in our life, where our children attended Douglas MacArthur School and T. C. Williams High School, and where we have many friends and many fond memories.

Let me begin by recognizing the remarkable role played by the Friends of Rocky Versace in making this day possible:

Mike Faber Tony Heisley Genny

Phil Faber Duane Frederic

Mike Kentes Kevin Rue

Joe Flynn John Gurr

Seven men, united by a common goal, who marched down a “long, winding — and sometimes seemingly impossible — road” to make the Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial a reality. Building support, lobbying, standing at shopping malls in the rain gathering signatures on petitions, week after week, month after month, believing in the cause they pursued and determined to do whatever it took to get the job done.

I’d like to ask the Friends of Rocky Versace to stand and be recognized.

To all of you, together — and with special appreciation to John Gurr for his unflagging leadership — we say

“THANK YOU VERY MUCH.”

It’s impossible to do justice in the few minutes we have today to remembering the service and dedication of all 62 wonderful human beings whose names will be inscribed on the Memorial that will stand in the plaza outside. But I find it’s often helpful in honoring a group of individuals to focus on the life of one of them, so we can remember that they were real people — sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, friends — who gave up so much so that this country might flourish, and our lives might be better.

This plaza is to be named in memory of a very special young man: Rocky Versace. The oldest of 5 children, whose father was a West Point graduate, Class of 1933, who was a Colonel of Artillery. And whose remarkable mother, Tere Rios Versace, was an author, a pilot, a linguist fluent in 5 languages, and so much more.

Rocky lived for a period of his life here in Alexandria, on Forrest Street, only about 500 yards from where were gathered today. He was an acolyte at St Rita’s Catholic and, indeed, became an acolyte and member of the Catholic choir when he went to West Point.

His faith was a vitally important part of Rocky’s life, and in one of those cruel ironies, he was just 2 weeks shy of completing his second consecutive tour of duty in Vietnam when he was wounded and captured. And his dream was to come back home, leave the Army, and enter training as a Priest-candidate in the Maryknoll Order.

But that was not to be. On October 29, 1963, in the course of a violent battle with the Viet Cong, Rocky was badly wounded and taken prisoner. He was beaten, imprisoned in cruel, inhuman conditions, malnourished, and tortured. He attempted to escape on 4 different occasions - only to be even more savagely tortured in return. Ultimately labeled an “incorrigible”, he was kept in isolation, in a tiny bamboo coffin, for the final 18 months of his life.

Who was this young man, and how did he find the courage, and faith, and love of country to become such an inspiration to us all?

Let me share a thought or two in answer to that question from my years as his friend, and fellow Cadet, at West Point.

Rocky and I were Classmates — members of the West Point Class of 1959.

He was a great friend. Spontaneous. Mischievous — Rocky seemed to get in trouble with some regularity because of “pranks” we all were party to but, somehow, he was the one who got caught.

Rocky was generally respectful of authority, but “irreverent” at the same time. But he had a tremendous “POSITIVE ENERGY” about him. He had a natural curiosity, and he was game to try almost anything.

Now, these are — in my mind, anyway — entirely admirable qualities. Rocky was fun to be around. He was a good and loyal friend. But nothing of his personality — on the surface, anyway — gave notice of the HUGELY CORAGEOUS; INDOMITABLY SPIRITED; INSPIRATIONAL “SOLDIER-HERO” he came to be.

Yet today, as I look back with the benefit of 40+ years of hindsight, there were, indeed, signals of what was to be. Let me briefly mention 3 of them.

First, Rocky was a member of the Cadet Debating Team. He loved to debate — on any subject, anywhere, at any time. When his sullen captors tried to indoctrinate Rocky — to tick, and outwit, and bamboozle him into renouncing his country or his role in the war — THEY FOUND THEMSELVES CONFRONTING A PRODIGIOUS OPPONENT UNLIKE ANYTHING THEY HAD EVER SEEN!

Second, Rocky was a member of the Cadet Chess Team. And he was very good. Again as, years later, his captors tried their many schemes and vicious, cruel games to break his spirit, they were doomed: THEY WERE, IN FACT, UP AGAINST A CHESSMASTER CHAMPION WHO WOULD NOT CAPITULATE, AND WOULD CONTINUE TO FIGHT, NO MATTER WHAT THEY THREATENED OR DID.

But, in hindsight, the thing that should have best forewarned me of the Herculean strength and epic courage Rocky would come to display in Vietnam came from his becoming the Cadet Intramural Wrestling Champion.

Why so? Well, in a way that only a good friend can say, I would tell you that in terms of wrestling talent, Rocky was almost totally skill-less! Not quick. Not especially strong. Not particularly coordinated. Not a comprehensive student of the sport. He reminded me, in a way, of a BUMBLEBEE.

It’s said that, “aerodynamically speaking”, a Bumblebee can’t fly. The only thing is, it doesn’t know it can’t fly. So it just does it. Rocky was exactly the same. “Athletically-speaking”, there was simply no way he could ever become the Cadet Intramural Wrestling Champion. The only thing was, he didn’t know it. So he did it anyway!

The point is, Rocky did not understand the word “quit”. He did not accept the concept of “giving up”. He would not entertain “failure” He did not acknowledge the possibility of “losing”. He was a champion. A winner. And he became a hero, who —through the efforts of a number of people here today — has been recommend for the Congressional Medal of Honor.

How did he do it? I believe it was a strong and supportive family background. An unqualified faith in God. And, in no small measure...

The Spirit of West Point...

The Soul of the Long Gray Line, and ...

The motto he lived by: DUTY, HONOR COUNTRY.

As we dedicate, today, the Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, how should we remember Rocky and the 61 other gallant soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines we honor today?

Let me suggest that we should speak directly to them — today, and every day of our lives.

My message to them is simple. It’s this:

· You represent the very best in all of us.

· Regular human beings, who laid down your lives for the good of others.

· Uncomplaining. Uncompromising. And uncommon in what you willingly did for us all.

· We remember you fondly, for who you were, and what you did.

· Heroes, every one.

· We miss you all.

God bless.

And, God bless America