Vietnam vet lays foundation for memorial in Kent County

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
  • 436 AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Joe Startt spends his days working in the 436th Maintenance Squadron either making repairs to aircraft parts or fabricating new ones, but for more than a year his hours after work have been spent pursuing another dream, a Vietnam veterans memorial park for Kent County.

Mr. Startt knew people from Kent County had served in Vietnam, but there was no memorial to honor their sacrifice. As the president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Kent County Chapter 850, he knew he had to try to do something to honor those who never returned.

"We have 25 to 30 veterans who have relatives in the area who are starting to get older," he said. "They're not able to make the trip down to Washington [to the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial]."

The VVA hopes to build an acre-and-a-half park on South Little Creek Road with a memorial listing the names of all the men and women from Kent County who did not return from the Vietnam war.

The VVA is currently selling space on bricks that will be permanently landscaped in a circle around the memorial. They hope to have enough money by February to begin work on the site so the property can be dedicated by Memorial Day.

"We're really working hard to try and make this a reality," said Startt.

Mr. Startt grew up in Kent County and left for Vietnam in 1969, but returned in 1970 when he was seriously injured and sent home with a purple heart. As a Vietnam veteran and a member of the community, Mr. Startt is able to personally identify with the names that will be inscribed on the memorial.

"A couple of the guys who were killed in Vietnam were only a couple years ahead of me in school, I knew of them," said Mr. Startt. "I'd like to bring them home so the relatives can come and see them. That's where my heart is, that's what we're working towards.

"I just want to bring them home," he said. "If we can bring a memorial home for them, then I've done my part."