One of the proudest moments for Morris "Butch" Thomas came on Wednesday when an official escort rolled its way to Lindbergh High School to begin events surrounding The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall. The Wall is in place through this Sunday.

Thomas, who chairs the Show-Me Hero Salute Committee charged with bringing the Traveling Tribute Wall, has called on local expertise and a host of volunteers since January to make the memorial display happen for the St. Louis area.

"Every American really should see the names of our fallen soldiers on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.," said Thomas. "But if you can't make it to Washington, D.C., this gives you the opportunity to see it here in your own hometown.

"I also hope to see young people visit the traveling wall at Lindbergh," said Thomas. "When you see these 58,000 names all in one place, it has to make you realize that war is pretty serious business."

Thomas and his committee have heard so much about the "serious business" of the Vietnam War since the project commenced. They've heard it from veterans, who've gotten involved in the effort, and who have personal stories to tell about faraway places with names like Khe Sanh, Ia Drang, Hue, An Loc, Da Nang and more.

The Vietnam War is often cited as the longest and most controversial war in American history. U.S. Special Forces are credited with entering South Vietnam as early as 1961 with the war's ending marked by the fall of Saigon to communist forces in April of 1975.

Thomas said the wall experience is personal for him. He lost a buddy to the war from his Lindbergh High School days by the name of Gary Beesley. He lost several more friends from his days at Kemper Military Academy in Boonville, Mo.

"My friends that I know on the wall are from the 1967-1968 period. One of them was a helicopter pilot," said Thomas. "I was pretty much resigned that I was going into the service and to Vietnam, but I got clipped in a basketball game that required my leg to be put together with pins. That kept me out.

"I had a military science professor at Kemper who was in the war from September 1967 until he was taken as a POW after his helicopter was shot down," noted Thomas. "Col. Benjamin H. Purcell was captured in 1968 and spent years in captivity as a prisoner until he was released during Operation Homecoming in 1973.

"I had hoped to have him as a speaker for the wall, but one of my big disappointments was that he died in April of this year," Thomas said.

RVs to Local History

Much of Thomas' career in St. Louis has been in the Recreational Vehicle (RV) business. He has owned a number of vehicle businesses and was a founder of the St. Louis RV Show and the Missouri Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association.

Thomas has been involved in many charitable benefits, from local flood relief to United Way efforts for low-income families. After his retirement from the RV business in 2002, Thomas said he became involved in hometown activities ranging from the Sunset Hills Golden Anniversary Celebration in 2007 to holding office in the Sunset Hills Historical Society.

"When I took over as president of the historical society about five years ago, we were down to about seven members," said Thomas. "One of the reasons I was interested in doing the wall as a historical project was to attract some new blood to the history organization.

"We are up to about 35 members now," said Thomas. "And when I say 35, that really means families that are involved, rather than individuals. There is really a lot of history to celebrate here, which is very much before the time that the city was actually incorporated."

Members from other historical societies are involved in the Wall project as well, including the Sappington-Concord Historical Society. The neighboring history group published "Hometown Heroes" in 2003, which includes a section on local connections to the Vietnam War.

Hero Salute Group

Thomas is proud of the Show-Me Hero Salute group that has been able to put strong programs together for each day the wall is on the campus at Lindbergh High School. Those programs include honor guards, chaplain services, solemn exercises and remarks by decorated Vietnam veterans.

Most important, though, has been the 24-7 presence of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Wall, which allows veterans to visit at the times they feel most comfortable expressing solidarity - and grief.

Thomas has high praise for all the help from Superintendent Jim Simpson and also Carl Guyer at Lindbergh. Thomas recruited more than 30 people for the project, assigned to such sub-committees as beautification, security, publicity, logistics and more.

"I came to know Butch when I was drafted by my VVA chapter to find out the details of the project," said Tom Ford. "I went to the first meeting, and was picked by him to be the Honor Chair. He has a unique management style that lends itself to motivating you to do the job, rather than answering to direct orders."

Indeed, Butch Thomas' standard answer to any question is: "You're the Boss," which means just use your expertise to get the job done.

"I am a member of the Sunset Hills Historical Society, and Butch invited me to the first meeting. Not many people turn Butch down," Sandie Grassino said.

"I think this event is important to many generations. As the saying goes, the importance of history is not the dates, names and places, but to learn the lessons," said Grassino. "I salute Butch for undertaking this event and enabling so many to heal, to remember, and to learn."

Joyce Franklin, a past historical society president, seconded Grassino's call for a salute.

"Butch Thomas and his wife, Linda, have worked on so many different projects and they are a great asset to any organization," said Franklin. "This has been quite a challenge for Butch and yet he is still smiling. Our lives are all enriched by his having taken on this challenge."

Vietnam Wall Display Programs

Friday, June 14

6 p.m.

  • Welcome - Butch Thomas, president of Sunset Hills Historical Society
  • Master of Ceremonies - Anne Allred, KSDK-TV
  • Posting of Colors - American Legion Post 208 10th District
  • National Anthem - Lindbergh High School Strolling Strings; Chaplain Invocation
  • Keynote Speaker - Charlie Dooley, St. Louis County executive and Vietnam veteran
  • Retire the Colors - American Legion Post 208 10th District
  • Benediction by Chaplain David Howard

Saturday, June 15

6 p.m.

  • Welcome - Butch Thomas, president of Sunset Hills Historical Society
  • Master of Ceremonies - Martin Kilycoyne, KTRS Radio
  • Remarks by Crestwood Mayor Jeff Schlink
  • Posting of Colors - St. Louis Service Women's Post 404 Color Guard
  • National Anthem, Patriotic Songs - Concord School Flyers, 4th & 5th grade choir, under the direction of Valerie Creech
  • Invocation - Chaplain Marian Whitfield, Air Force, St. Louis Service Women's Post 404
  • Keynote Speaker - Judge Charles Berry, Vietnam veteran
  • Congresswoman Ann Wagner, 2nd District
  • Presentation - Katie Melies, president of Gold Star Mothers & Children; Linda Hobkirk
  • Memorial to eight women listed on the Wall - Service Veteran's Post 404
  • Last Roll Call; Fallen Soldier Display
  • Benediction - Chaplain Marian Whitfield
  • Three Volley Salute - Post 404 Military Funeral Honors Team; Taps, Mary Weber
  • Retrieval of Colors - Post 404 Color Guard

Sunday, June 16

Noon

  • Welcome - Butch Thomas, president of Sunset Hills Historical Society
  • Master of Ceremonies - Kevin Killeen, KMOX Radio
  • Remarks by Fenton Mayor Mike Polizzi
  • Posting of Colors - St. Louis Service Women's Post 404 Color Guard
  • National Anthem - Nicole Moore, violin solo
  • Invocation - Chaplain Father Joseph A. Weber, U.S. Air Force-retired colonel; Parish Priest St. Justin Martyr
  • Guest Speaker - Walter Crawford Jr., executive director of the Wild Bird Sanctuary
  • Benediction - Chaplain Father Joseph A. Weber
  • Honor Guard - American Legion Post 162, Lemay Memorial Post

Wall will be available for viewing until 3 p.m.