Photos: Vietnam Memorial rededicated

One of the country's first Vietnam War Memorials -- placed in East Austin in the early 1970's -- has been given a facelift.

The monument sits on the corner of Interstate 35 and Cesar Chavez.

The memorial came at a time when there wasn't a lot of support for the Vietnam war, and for years it sat neglected -- but not any more. A number of local organizations have come together to beautify the memorial, installing landscaping, a sprinkler system, lights and a flag pole.

Vietnam veteran and Austin City Council member Lee Leffingwell says people should support the troops from all wars.

"I think we have to respect the fact that they go out in the field and are not a part of the policy necessarily and we have to respect the sacrifices they make for us here at home and for the rest of the country," he said.

Betty Roland Zapata's brother was shot down and killed during the Vietnam War. She brought the flag that draped his coffin.

"Some things I have noticed is that they are forgotten. I don't know why they don't make a big issue out of it, but they should," she said.

Vietnam Veteran Bobby Briscoe says the memorial is a great thing but still brings up painful memories.

"I look at this little bit of stone and I say that part is Baker. That part is Bobby Brown. This part is Sgt. Rodriguez," he said about men who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. "I was a squad leader when I went to Vietnam. There was 166 guys that went over there with us and only 28 came back."

Briscoe says that is why he was at the memorial.

"I gave my whole life to the military and I still give my whole life to that flag -- that flag in my life," he said.