In early January, Clyde Snyder of Lancaster Township was asked by the president of Vietnam Veterans of America whether there were any Merchant Marines buried in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Snyder, who founded the Vet21 Salute Honor Guard of Lancaster, looked into the situation, and when he learned there were 90 Merchant Marine veterans there, he did the research and raised the money to place a Merchant Marine monument. The ceremony dedicating that memorial was held on June 4.

In April, Snyder learned that no memorial to Vietnam veterans existed in the cemetery. "I said, 'I've got to do this for my brothers,'" recalled Snyder, who set about raising the $7,700 needed to fund the memorial under the sponsorship of Blankets of Honor, a nonprofit that presents veterans with blankets depicting the branch they served in.

On Oct. 8, at noon, a ceremony was held at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery to dedicate the memorial. The event opened with a flyover by the Liberty War Bird Association Huey, a restored Vietnam helicopter now operating as a flying museum based at the Lancaster Airport. Mike Caimi, one of the founders of the Liberty War Birds, noted that taking part in the flyover fulfills goals of the organization. "The mission of the Liberty War Bird Association is to honor the legacy of our Vietnam veterans and provide a healing link to their past," explained Caimi. "What better way to accomplish that goal than to participate in the dedication of the Vietnam veterans' memorial at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, a hallowed site where not only are a number of Vietnam veterans buried, but two of our own recently deceased volunteers have been interred?" Caimi reported that he was on board for the flyover. "It was a solemn moment for our flight crew," he recalled.

Amanda Spangenberg played the bagpipes and Snyder spoke. Manny Acuna of Blankets of Honor also spoke. Acuna later reflected on the importance of the memorial at the Vets Breakfast Club event in Bird-in-Hand on Oct. 15. "This monument (was) dedicated to you guys who served and the ones who didn't come home," he said, recalling the event. "On my way home (from the dedication), I just cried because you guys don't have that recognition, (but) every day that we can give you that recognition is a day that we can say, 'Welcome home.'"

The invocation and prayer was given by the Rev. Grover DeVault, a Vietnam veteran. Speakers also included Vietnam veteran Chieu V Le, Dick Hoxworth, Sen. Ryan Aument, and Rep. Frank Ryan. An honorable riderless horse was provided by Woerth It Hollow, an official nonprofit equine-assisted therapy organization for veterans and people with disabilities. Sara Hodgkiss, veteran and Woerth It Hollow CEO called it an honor to provide the services.

Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard oversaw flag duties at the event, Vet21 Salute provided a rifle volley, and Snyder played taps.

Snyder made special note of donors Carole Wiker, Lorie Kiser, Ken Pederson, and Abel & Son Roofing & Siding.