ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — A memorial honoring veterans who died of complications from exposure to Agent Orange has been dedicated in northern Illinois.
The Rockford Register Star (http://bit.ly/1FipolA ) reports more than 200 people gathered Sunday for the dedication of the Agent Orange Memorial at the Vietnam Veterans LZ Peace Memorial in Rockford. Families spoke about their loved ones during the ceremony.
The names of seven veterans are on the Agent Orange Memorial, and there’s room for 170 more. Vietnam Veterans Honor Society President Nick Parnello said more names will be added during future ceremonies.
Parnello said it’s important that troops who died in combat and veterans who died from Agent Orange are memorialized in the same space.
Agent Orange is a highly toxic herbicide that was used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.