To the editor:

I’d like to respond to letters written by Ellen Vancura and Ann Vogel. I’d like to clear up some twisted facts included in both letters.

I too was concerned that the Vietnam Memorial Committee meeting held July 19th was not recorded. I called City Hall and was told only City Council and City Commission meetings are recorded. Generally, committee meetings are not.

I joined many other veterans at both commission meetings as well as the city council meeting. I was also a member of the Vietnam Memorial Committee (also attended by fellow veterans). Both sides (proponents and opponents) were given an opportunity to speak at ALL MEETINGS!

Dr. Vogel spoke at the city council meeting held on July 6th. She was very passionate on why the memorial was not appropriate for German Park. She provided no details or proposals for alternatives!

Bruce Lambrecht gave a detailed proposal at the Vietnam Memorial Committee meeting held on July 19th. He was very convincing on why Veterans Square and the Vietnam Memorial Panel were appropriate for German Park. This led the committee to vote UNAMIMOUSLY to send the issue back to the city council at the earliest possible time. It was decided to place it on the August 3rd city council meeting agenda. Dr. Vancura also attended the Vietnam Memorial Committee meeting but DID NOT SPEAK! Committee member Denny Warta was the only opposition to this proposal but DID NOT VOTE IN OPPOSITION!

Dr. Vogel referred to the Vietnam Memorial Committee as a “task force.” That might have given the committee a little more clout. In the end, the committee was only going to meet twice before a September city council meeting. Not much time to give this issue the attention it deserves.

Dr. Vancura referred to the Vietnam War as a “conflict”. That’s like calling the Korean War a “police action.” She then went on to refer to the Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan Wars as “wars”. Are those wars more legitimate than Vietnam or Korea?

Both Dr. Vancura and Dr. Vogel have said German Park is not appropriate for a memorial. I disagree! Take a close look at page 5 of The Friends of German Park – The Case For The German Park Initiative. Page 5 refers to the “Denkmal”.

When describing the “Denkmal.” paragraph two states “The German word translates as a memorial which invites the viewer to ‘Stop and remember.'” Paragraph 5 states the Denkmal “is a tribute to those who gave their lives for the security of our nation and city.”

In conclusion, I STRONGLY recommend the city council approve Mr. Lambrecht’s proposal. If Veteran’s Square isn’t an appropriate memorial for German Park, then I recommend relocating the Denkmal. Replace it with a splash pad or wading pool!

Tony Miller

New Ulm