The culmination of nearly two and a half months of steady work was finally realized Nov. 18, when Naval Station Rota held a dedication ceremony for its new Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Service members, civilians and family members assembled at the new Vietnam Veterans Memorial to pay homage to the sacrifices of our Vietnam veterans and their families.

Capt. Michael MacNicholl, commanding officer of Naval Station Rota, offered appreciation to the various organizations and individuals who envisioned this project and brought it to life, and reflected on the sacrifice and service of all Vietnam veterans.

"The Vietnam War was a long conflict that beset our great nation at the midpoint of the last century," said MacNicholl. "Few of us here can truly understand the sacrifices of a prior generation who served during this period nor can we truly understand the effect this war had on our nation. For this, we are a grateful nation - one which gives thanks and honors to the U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War and our allies for their service."

Construction of the park began in early September 2016 and many organizations throughout the installation volunteered their time and hard work to create the finished product. Contributors include Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, Rota Public Works, 25th Air Mobility Squadron, Naval Station Rota Chiefs Mess and the Air Force Top Three.

"We must work to honor their legacy and ensure they are rightfully remembered for the sacrifices they made and their service to our nation," said MacNicholl. "The veterans of the Vietnam War did what was asked of them - our nation asked for their service - our nation asked them to fight in the jungles, fight in the hills, fight in the air and fight in the deltas. They won the battles. They fought bravely, courageously and tenaciously. We must remember their accomplishments - we must remember their sacrifices. Every single one of these veterans who served our great country during this challenging time deserves the heartfelt thanks of our nation."

The Vietnam War spanned more than 20 years, from 1954 to 1975. More than 2.7 million service members served in Vietnam while an additional 700,000 served in Southeast Asia supporting the war. The conflict claimed the lives of more than 58,000 U.S. service members.

Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Henry Marquez, was one of the millions of Americans who served in Vietnam War. Marquez, a 22-year veteran spent time on the ground as a reporter during the war.

"Wearing the uniform is a great honor. I don't think there is another profession in the world like the U.S. military," said Marquez. "No other profession requires you to use all of your brain and sometimes ... all of your blood."

Marquez said he was very nervous and sometimes afraid during the first three months after arriving in Vietnam, didn't know if he would make it home alive.

"You never know what life is going to throw at you," said Marquez. "Eventually, I was able to relax because I figured, whatever will be, will be."

Several organizations aboard Rota have a storied history with the Vietnam War. Petty Officer 3rd Class Marvin Shields was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1966 and remains the first and only Seabee to be awarded with the nation's highest military honor. Shields was a construction mechanic assigned to NMCB 11, the very battalion that helped complete Rota's Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

One of Rota's four forward-deployed missile-guided destroyers also has strong ties to the Vietnam War. Marine Col. Donald Cook spent three years as a prisoner of war and was also posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His legacy will live on, as he is the namesake of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Donald Cook (DDG 75).

Naval Station Rota enables and supports operations of U.S. and allied forces and provides quality services in support of the fleet, fighter, and family for Commander, Navy Installations Command in Navy Region EURAFSWA.

Just as a ship performs lines of operation that provide a capability, Navy Region EURAFSWA bases perform the same eight lines of operation to provide capability to the fleet and joint and allied forces. These eight lines of operation are: air operations, port operations, safety, security, MWR, Fleet and Family Services and what is called the core; the fuels, water and power that keep the bases running. Through our lines of operation, our installations are force multipliers that maximize the combat capability of operational units.

For details about Naval Station Rota, visit their website at http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/ns_rota.html.

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