ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED

This article was published in a local newspaper The Penobscot Times in the March 9th 2000 Edition.   This was written by Tina Green the wife of Linwood (OD) Green the founder of the project.

Will The Vietnam War Ever Be Over?

Imagine standing in front of an engraved black marble wall, looking at the names of lives lost so long ago.  Imagine working so hard on letting people know that for each one of those names was a heart and a soul.  That’s the job Linwood Green, a Vietnam vet from Orono, has created for himself, his comrades, for you, and me.  “People are not dead as long as they are still being remembered,” says Green, and that’s the mission behind a Vietnam Memorial called “Mobile Memories.”   Green, who was a medic in ‘Nam, saw life disappear all too often but has not forgotten those souls, especially the 343 from Maine.

Whenever you ask Green why this Memorial is so important to him, in an instant you can see the expression on his face change.  There’ll be a long pause, as he seems to leave the present and go back in time for a few seconds.  In a quite, dispirited, and almost overwhelming voice, Green says,  “There is just a feeling inside of me telling me it has to be done.” Green taking a deep breath as a pause to hold back the emotions, continues, “There has been this void in my life, and it’s for my brothers, the family that was with me in Nam, the soldiers; they became my new found family, This Memorial is for them, all of them, not just the ones who ended up making the ultimate sacrifice and losing their lives.”

Most people don’t see the countless hours of behind the scenes work that goes into putting a project like this together.  It is not uncommon to drive by Green’s house and see the lights on all hours of the night.  Many a days he is just finishing up as the light of a new day dawns.  One thing is for sure that you will never hear Green complain of the numerous hours put in to make this memorial a reality.  Green says, “What is a few sleepless nights compared to the importance of remembering the men who died fighting for their country?” Green continues, “ It is important for us to remember, freedom is never free.”   This point has really been driven home with Green, and what has hit him the most is the overwhelming enthusiasm of the family and their happiness and appreciation that people still care about these forgotten soldiers.  These families, and the families of the soldiers who survived Vietnam, want this memorial to be a big success and hope that more people will get involved to help make this dream become reality for so many people.    It is this force, Green says, that gives him the drive to spend many sleepless night to do this project.    The numerous hours of researching every one of the 343 Maine men is ongoing just like the Vietnam War.  Robert Murdock, a very talented student at the Orono High School, has drawn up the blue prints.  Green has put in many hours of research looking for someone to build this portable museum, laser printing the names in glass, pricing the glass, finding someone who knows about colored glass and back lighting of the names, and was very lucky to find a Nam Vet who can do the job.  Also Green is working on finding the best price for the materials and working on fundraisers to help purchase these items.  Green is also working on trying to get someone to donate a computer system, monitor, printer, scanner and re-write able cd drive so he can make copies of the presentations to be made on each of these 343 men. That way any of the families who would like a copy of these presentations will be able to have it thanks to the ability to make cd with the write able drive.  Green says it would be nice to be able to give these cd’s to the families so they can be able to view whenever they want. The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) these individuals has helped fuel his fire.  This organization is so excited about the project and it’s so easy to see the energy from the group and from Green when they are talking about the latest updates on the memorial in the monthly VVA meetings. 

Green says, “you don’t have to be a Vet to get involved in this project. Show your support for the ones who might have been your neighbor, your friend or even part of your family.”   Green said any support would be greatly appreciated.   The support of time, or if you have a talent in a certain area, ideas for fundraisers, or a contribution of money, any and all of these would help get this memorial closer to its completion.    In conclusion, Green says, the public should take pride in the project because it is about local people and done by local people.  If you are interested in helping with this project please contact Linwood Green by email which is located on the bottom of first page at page.