Adena honors fallen Vietnam veteran with bridge dedication

ADENA, Ohio. — On National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day, the community of Adena gathered to honor Sp/4 Dale Stock, a local hero who lost his life in the Vietnam War. Fifty-two years after American troops departed Vietnam, residents assembled on the village green to pay tribute to Stock, who began his service at the end of 1967 and died on March 21, 1969.

In a long-awaited gesture, a bridge in Adena was dedicated in Stock's honor. "They put a new bridge in a couple of years ago, and our committee asked about dedicating the bridge for Dale," said Roger Sliva, Chairman of the Vietnam War Commemoration Committee. He added, "We talked to the mayor, decided Vietnam Veterans Day, which is March 29, to dedicate the bridge in honor of Dale. It's long overdue."

The ceremony was particularly meaningful for those who knew Stock, including John Stanko, who was the last to see him. "I'm glad that they did this. I've been waiting a long time for this. I thought it'd be done before this. But he was a great soldier, and a great man, and, believe me, he deserves all this recognition here," Stanko said.

The event also featured a recognition ceremony and lapel pin presentation for veterans and their spouses. Frank Featner, President of the Vietnam Veterans Support Group Chapter 1 , expressed the significance of the occasion. "It's...it's hard to put into words for a veteran. This is great. It's fantastic that the community would come together to do this for a fallen veteran. It's been over 50 years since we were there, but it's nice to know that the ones who didn't make it home are not forgotten," he said.

While Vietnam veterans were not warmly welcomed home in the 1960s and 70s, both organizers and veterans noted that ceremonies like this not only honor those who served but also represent a shift in the country's attitude. Sliva remarked, "Now the country realizes that the service that the Vietnam veterans did...from now on, they'll never let a serviceman be disrespected when they come home."

Reflecting on the event, Sliva added, "It's just hard to, you know, talk about it. It was all good guys, it was all good guys."