Hidden away in the depths of Mount Pleasant's Island Park sits Michigan's Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The memorial was the first of its kind in the state and honors those from across Michigan who lost their lives or otherwise did not come home from the Vietnam war.
Over the years the memorial has been expanded to include other wars, including both World Wars, the Korean War and the Gulf War.
However, the focus still remains on the plaques, listing out the names of over 2,000 people from Michigan who were unable to make it home from the Vietnam War.
During a visit to the memorial just days before Veteran's Day, Isabella County's 2023 Veteran of the Year, Terry Kunst explained what him and local organization are trying to preserve the memory of fallen soldiers. Kunst is the president of the 3rd chapter of Forgotten Eagles, a Michigan non-profit dedicated to helping veterans in need as well as bringing attention and advocating for prisoners of war and those missing in action.
"We're not a motorcycle club," Kunst said. "Some people because some of our folks ride motorcycles, they think we're a club. We're not. So anyone can join us. You don't have to be a veteran to join. In fact- most of our membership, I think we've only got 4 or 5 veterans in our membership right now, the rest are non veterans. But they support the mission statement of helping Michigan veterans and their dependent family members and to make a full accounting for POW and MIA."
Each spring, Forgotten Eagles does repairs and cleanup for the memorial with the help of the city of Mount Pleasant and the local Home Depot, with Kunst citing great support from the community.
"A lot of people come down here just for peace," Kunst said. "And you know, for the Vietnam Veterans who lost their brothers and sisters there it means a lot more to them to to do this than going to Washington, DC to the wall. It's a very solemn time."
On Veteran's Day , Kunst spoke about his own and other's experiences within the Vietnam War at Central Michigan University's Veteran's Day luncheon.
"I wasn't a combat soldier. I was an aircraft door gunner and crew chief," he said. "So the guys and gals that served on the ground, I can't imagine going through that. And so I'm going to read a clip from a platoon leader in Vietnam and just his story about what it was like, so it gives you a better feeling for what our infantry go through."
