Story behind the song
A Radford War Veteran who was trying to find a way to honor fellow military personnel who have given their lives to their country has found a super-sized way to do so.
Gary Harris, a Vietnam Veteran and member of the VFW Post 776, purchased a used recreational vehicle several months ago with one thing in mind - to make a memorial-on-wheels for his fellow comrades.
Now, "A Soldier's Spirit," a huge RV painted gleaming black with white and red accents and a mural painted by local sign artist Darrell Reed, has hit the streets. Harris said he did all of the work himself aside from the murals, and he is pleased with the results.
"When I first bought it, it was yellow and it looked pretty bad," Harris said. "But I knew exactly how I wanted it to look right from the start and I think I got it where I wanted it."
Harris, a U.S. Army Veteran, has taken the RV to several parades and other events honoring the military and says he is just at the beginning of his quest. He plans to fit as many names of fallen soldiers on the side of the vehicle as he can, asking family members to add the name of their loved ones lost in war.
The RV has three such names so far, but the memorial does not end there. In addition to adding names, Harris is also asking family members to write down memories and stories about their loved one in a scrapbook he plans to keep with the RV and add to.
"I want this filled with stories," he said, pouring over the scrapbook. "Sacrifices are too easily forgotten. Through this, people can tell the stories of someone they've lost through war, everyone will see their names on the side of this vehicle and the names and memories will be kept alive."
The first name Harris added to "A Soldier's Spirit" was that of his good friend Steve Traynor, with whom Harris served in Vietnam.
"He died the day after his birthday, 48 days before we were going home," Harris said in a recent interview. "And we had plans, big plans, for after we got back. Those plans were lost, but his name, memory and sacrifice still lives on."
The next name to be added was Elmer Vaught, Sr., who dies in World War II and whose name was added to the RV memorial by his widow and his son.
Next to be added was Jonathan Bowling, a Martinsville police officer and fire fighter and son of Virginia State Trooper Darrell Bowling. Jonathan Bowling was killed in Iraq.
Harris said those names are the first of many that will adorn the RV. He hopes to log in many, many miles over the next few years, spreading the message of the importance of military sacrifice for American freedom. Harris is also asking people who would like to add the name of a loved one killed in combat to the Soldier's Spirit, to do so, contact Harris at 540-641-2590.
Here is also a story done in Bristol Herald Courier
RADFORD – Gary Harris turns a lot of heads as he spins his wheels.
People stare. Some even tell stories – and start to cry – as his motor home, a 1975 Superior, rolls past in parades.
He calls this vehicle “A Soldier’s Spirit.”
The lifelong Radford resident bought the camper three years ago.
About a year later, Harris not only repainted the camper, but turned it into a moving tribute that can move people – emotionally.
“Everybody who walks by will either stop, look or read or tell their stories,” Harris said.
“There’s a lot of veterans out there that probably don’t advertise what they’ve done or where they’ve been or what they saw. A lot of them want to forget.
“Some of them will talk. I found out that some of your war veterans will talk to another war veteran and talk about things that he probably wouldn’t even tell his wife.”
Harris, 62, doesn’t mind talking about his own experiences in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War – especially when it comes to Steve Traynor, his best friend.
The young men served together in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade.
“I could sit here for hours,” Harris said, smiling, “and tell you about
