A towering tribute to area Vietnam vet

PITTSTON – Those who knew him said James Edward “Murph” Roxby might not have liked having an 80-foot flagpole dedicated to him, but he sure would have loved its purpose: to remind everyone to support all veterans.

“We decided over a year ago that we wanted to put a big flag out here to show patriotism and support for veterans,” said Nancy Verespy, international executive director of the Veterans Coalition and Veterans of the Vietnam War Inc., which is headquartered on the Pittston Bypass.

The organization’s national commander, Peter J. Forbes, began a letter-writing campaign that came to the attention of the owner of Virginia-based American Flagpole, who donated the $7,500 brushed stainless pole. One 10-foot-deep hole and 15 cubic yards of concrete later, the pole was assembled and planted through the donated services of Lane’s Cranes, Jenkins Township firefighters, and numerous others who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Verespy said once the pole became a reality, there was no doubt it should be dedicated to Roxby. She said the Inkerman, Jenkins Township, resident served in Vietnam and was a tireless advocate of veterans who testified before Congress and spoke to anyone who would listen about how that conflict affected those who served.

“He carried the tanks with the dioxin that was used to spray the areas the Army wanted sprayed,” Verespy said. “They were told it wasn’t harmful but it had to be because it was killing everything it was sprayed on. Murph was exposed to the spray when he was spraying it and some of the tanks exploded while he was carrying them.”

Verespy said the dioxin — known as Agent Orange—caused Roxby’s health to decline. He suffered from numerous problems including scleroderma, a condition that made his skin become taut and hardened parts of his body. A blood clot claimed his life in 1994.

“He was a little guy, maybe 5-foot-7 and about 120 pounds, and he wasn’t pretty to look at,” Verespy said. “People would stare at him and he would take it, and they would ask him, ‘What happened to you?’ and he would stand there and tell them and make them understand what happened to him and to others.”

Roxby’s story became part of the coalition’s efforts to get the word out about the trials suffered by veterans of all conflicts and the need to support them.

“He couldn’t do a lot with his hands or his body, but with his mouth and his story he did all he could,” said Roxby’s only son, James Joseph Roxby. “He probably would have thought the money for the flag pole could have gone to other things, to help someone,” the younger Roxby said, “but the honor – having a flag like this for him – he would have loved it.”

Well over 100 people gathered for the dedication ceremony, including a large number of veterans. Nearly three dozen members of Roxby’s family had a hand in holding up the huge 20-by-38 foot flag, which cost $1,100 and was donated by national headquarters, carefully protecting it from touching the ground as it was connected and slowly hoisted to the top of the towering flag pole. Many in the crowd noticed the eagle that soared overhead as the flag was raised and departed shortly before trumpeter Mike Truszkowski of Hanover Township sounded “Taps.”

The symbolism of the bird wasn’t lost on Forbes, a native of Australia. “To have an eagle come and fly over us like that while we raised an American flag, the Native Americans would say that was a powerful sign,” he said.

Forbes said the huge flag, which will be illuminated and fly day and night, is another powerful sign.

“When people see it they should feel pride, pride in their flag, pride in their country, pride in the people who protect it. They should want to stop the Vietnamization of this war and not take out their feelings about the war on the troops. Whatever you think of the war, you have to support the troops.”