An evening of remembrance, music at the fort

Loretta George/Tribune photo Bill Fischer, FSNHS acting chief of interpretation and resource management and historian, speaks Saturday before the concert. Fischer spoke of the history of Symbols of Sacrifice at the fort and also gave a commemoration of those who served in the Vietnam War.

Symbols of Sacrifice, a remembrance of the sacrifice of American servicemen and women during the War on Terror, was highlighted at Fort Scott National Historic Site Saturday.

Starting early Saturday, the names of those fallen in the War on Terror were read individually over Fort Scott's public address system downtown.

Saturday evening on the grounds of the fort south of the visitor center, Bill Fischer, FSNHS acting chief of interpretation and resource management and historian spoke about the Vietnam War 50th anniversary commemoration thanking those veterans who served.

Fischer said there are approximately 7.2 million living Vietnam Veterans, who served from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975.

There were 58,000 servicemen and women who died in that war, "eight times the number of flags that we have flying on our parade ground," Fischer said.

"The war would fracture our nation to the point that those young men and women who fulfilled their duty to the U.S. would be often publicly ridiculed and humiliated by many of their fellow citizens," he said.

During this era American service people also were stationed along the 38th Parallel Demilitarized Zone in Korea, some supported ballistic missile operations, "others..., sitting in lonely outposts...in other places," Fischer said.

Still others were part of reserve or National Guard, he said.

Those who served in the Vietnam War were asked to stand and were recognized.

The evening featured the 1st Infantry Division Band Ensemble from Fort Riley who entertained visitors with songs throughout history.

Jason Bemis, spokesman for the musicians and trumpet player, said the group has duties of playing for ceremonies of fallen soldiers, protocol engagements, community outreach events such as the one performed Saturday evening and other military ceremonies.

The ensemble performed a selection of rock and roll, classical, pop, and jazz music for the visitors.

On Friday, area students from Fort Scott Christian Heights and Uniontown schools and other concerned citizens volunteered to place the 6,828 flags on the parade ground at the site. That number represents those killed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, when the U.S. Military moved to an advisory capacity in Iraq and Operation Inherent Resolve, the air campaign against ISIL.

The flags display can seen until noon, Sept. 17 at the fort.