I personally don't know that much about Mahlon Watkins but from the Wellsboro Gazette achieves I got that he ran track, fished in Hill's Creek Lake and was listed with others from Tioga County who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. Here is the complete list.
* Tammy Clark, Pennsylvania Genealogy Trails
Here is The Wall information about Mahlon.
I had a couple other considerations for this posting but felt the magic might work better with a little more public notice. I do not know the criteria for consideration, but the memorial has names of those from the local area who served in all the wars with a star by the name of those who were killed or died.
I would like to think that all casualties get as much recognition as possible but particularly those who died whether in combat or later as a result of their wounds or from one of the many other ways lives were lost in a war zone. It's a difference that few things can compare. I'm sure that's why the little burg of Holiday (or Crooked Creek) put up such an impressive memorial.
It's been awhile since I took pictures of the memorial. For many reasons, it was a personal time for me. Since then, I have often thought how difficult it was to be from Crooked Creek.
Lots can be and should be said about the war veterans who were not killed or died. They have their own particular struggles. Each war produces its own distinction but most come back changed in some way.
Some veterans wish they were dead and some eventually find their way to that end. Some have been horrible to live with and some have done horrible things. Others have recovered physically from their wounds or mentally from their memories or spiritually from seeing a side of themselves they did not know was there. Many others have overcome their experiences and have gone on with their lives as they first hoped. But few ever completely leave their war behind. Action of some kind is still needed. War is just that way.
