Story #1

May 28, 2018

In May of 2018, I wrote this letter to Allen, laminated the letter along with the Coin, attached it to a small dowel and placed it next to Allen’s Headstone at Dell Park. The very last sentence clearly indicates that I had a pretty good idea that the physical coin would not remain for long. Story #2 shows how wrong I was.

2^nd Lt Allen R. Loane

United Sates Marine Corps

May 28, 2018

Allen,

Seven years ago, I attended the Vietnam Moving Wall ceremony at the Natick High School. I, along with two other classmates of ours from Natick, Class of 1959, Kevin Keane and Russ Barber, represented your brother when your name was announced as one of the Natick Vietnam Veterans KIA. It was our sincere honor to stand up for you as you were being honored.

A few years later, another classmate of ours, Ken Poole, handed me a commemorative coin that had been produced by the Natick Selectmen and handed out to those who helped bring the Moving Wall to Natick. He did this on the day that I was accepting the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty that was given to the families of each Massachusetts military veteran killed in any war. Your brother could not attend and I asked him if I could do that for him. He agreed. The medal and all the certificates have been delivered to Jeff in Kentucky.

Now, back to the coin. When Ken gave me the coin he said that if anyone deserved this coin, it was me. I was overcome with emotion. You see, Ken was wrong. The person who really deserved this coin was you. You gave your life for this great country of ours. We cannot repay your sacrifice.

I leave this coin with you.

Your friend, classmate and teammate;

Allan Ross

Someone may remove this from your grave, but as far as I am concerned, it will be received by you the instant I place this on your headstone