Beaver Co. Vietnam Vets Guard Christmas Tree
BEAVER (KDKA) - Vietnam veterans are on duty Christmas Eve guarding a Christmas tree in Beaver County.
The Vietnam Veterans 862 Chapter of Beaver County is doing something that's taken years to accomplish: putting up a Christmas tree in Quay Park.
It sounds simple, but a city ordinance has said no display can be put in the park unattended.
This year, at a chapter meeting they filled a sign up sheet with veterans pledging to stand guard.
The veterans are fighting for something they believe comes easy, especially when it honors the 73 soldiers from Beaver County who didn't make it home for Christmas.
"They're all Vietnam veterans and members of the chapter and they're going to be here all night, one, two or hours, coming at 3, 4, 5 in the morning, but we'll be here all night. We're giving up our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They gave up their life," Vietnam Veterans Chapter 862 President Skip Haswell said.
The veterans will stand guard taking shifts until 5 p.m. Christmas Day. They said it's a small sacrifice in comparison to the one the fallen soldiers made.
