Since 2001, local veterans have met downtown to celebrate military troops
On a September day, Liberty University freshman Toby Williamson of the Marine Corp reserves casually turned on his Dream Cast videogame system in his dorm room on the Hill.
Everything was normal as he played Virtua Tennis, a Sega videogame released two years prior in 1999.
Williamson noticed commotion in the hallway as he played. His friend entered the room, frantic, and commanded him to turn on the TV.
“I didn’t believe (what I saw on the news) to be honest,” Williamson said. “The whole campus at that moment shut down. Classes stopped happening, and video games went to the wayside.”
America froze Sept. 11, 2001, when 19 terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, crumbling the skyscrapers and taking nearly 3,000 innocent lives.
Monument Terrace has served as the home for the event every week for 17 years.
Multiple emotions rushed through Williamson, a trained Marine, as he called his platoon sergeant.
“Not only was I ready to go, I was prepared,” Williamson said.
Faithful to his country, Williamson departed Liberty to fight.
Two months following the attacks, in downtown Lynchburg near Monument Terrace, several protestors expressed concern over America’s decision to invade Afghanistan. Vietnam veteran and Lynchburg resident Steve Bozeman took notice and organized a counter protest.
“I wanted to show Lynchburg that we have a bunch of veterans (who) supported our troops going into war,” Bozeman said. “I was pretty angry.”
About 75 people, including local veterans, showed support for the invasion Friday, Nov. 30, 2001.
Bozeman, who is 72 years old now, did not realize it at the time, but his counter protest would soon sprout into a weekly gathering of veterans and locals to show support for veterans, veterans’ families and active personnel in the military.
“We didn’t plan on coming back the next Friday,” Bozeman said, referring to the initial counter protest in 2001.
The following Friday, Dec. 7, 2001, the group gathered again in Downtown Lynchburg to recognize the anniversary of the attacks at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Between 40-70 now attend on a typical Friday, and March 22, 2019 marked the 900th consecutive meeting.
“We made a point not to miss any Friday, no matter what the weather was,” Bozeman said. “Our mission was straightforward: to support our troops.”
Friday’s 900th meeting saw roughly 250 attendees gathered around Monument Terrace. A vibrant American flag donning thousands of engraved dog tags colored the base of the steps.
Around 250 attendees were present at the rally.
A 30-minute ceremony commenced, following an introductory playing of the National Anthem. Lynchburg Chief of Police Ryan Zuidema spoke at the beginning, and Sheriff Don Sloan gave the closing benediction. A Gold-Star mother, the parent of a fallen service member, also made an appearance at the podium.
“I get great satisfaction knowing what this has become: a brotherhood and sisterhood of veterans,” Bozeman said. “We’re going to keep it up. We feel very heartwarming that so many people came out today.”
Commonwealth Attorney Bethany Harrison also spoke, representing the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
After serving, Williamson returned to Liberty to finish school. He attended his first gathering in 2014, two years after graduating.
“It is commonplace in our language to say, ‘Never forget,’” Williamson said. “If you pulled 100 people from the community (and asked), ‘What are we not forgetting?,’ they would not have a clue.”
A small building several yards from Monument Terrace housed refreshments for attendees.
“The idea of ‘never forget’ is a real practice here,” Williamson said. “If we can do it here, it can be done on a larger scale throughout communities across America.”
Expect to see American flags waving at Monument Terrace during the 901st gathering March 29 at 1 p.m.
For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page “Vietnam Veterans of America, Lynchburg Chapter 196.”
“Anything a veteran has ever done to sacrifice themselves for the greater good (is) not something we can forget,” Williamson said. “It’s something that’s woven into our lives.”
Check out our Facebook page:
@MonumentTerraceTroopRally
Loyal veterans we applaud you all. We’re proud to say some of our greatest men in the world! Here’s to the real heroes!
Im proud to say I served with Steve Bozeman in Vietnam..His dedication to Honor All Veterans’s has inspired many…Semper Fi Marine..OORAA
There is an energy so palpable on Fridays that can’t be described. God bless everyone that has served and still serving toay. Thanks to the owners of 829 Church St for making it possible for our older vets to attend and providing much needed facilities.
It was a Friday in July of 2004 on my way to file paperwork with the city clerk, as I had just bought a home here in Lynchburg. I noticed a group of Veterans, with flags, standing in front of City Hall. My friend and I were wearing
“T” shirts with U.S.MARINES on them, almost instantly we were approached by Steve Bozeman, asking if we lived in the area. This is when Steve told us about the Support The Troops Rally.
After meeting Steve, I knew this Support The Troops Rally on Fridays was something I had to become a part of.
I have missed some Fridays, being out of State or out of the Country, once while visiting my Son in the U.K., I called Steve, just to check in and let him know I was thinking of everyone there. There were other times I just could not attend.
Some years later, I found out that Steve and I were in the same M.A.G. “H&MS 12 at Chu Lai Air Base Vietnam, in in 1968. We did not know each other at this time.
I have told many friends from Ct. about our Support The Troops Rally, and have gotten calls from them, saying that they saw me and to pass on their Thanks, as they really appreciate what we have been doing all these years.