It’s been more than 70 years since the Vietnam War came to an end, and Bucks County officials haven’t forgotten about the residents who have lost lives overseas.
On June 9, Bucks County Bridge #286, which sits over Poquessing Creek along Red Lion Lane in the Andalusia section of Bensalem, was renamed to honor Cpl. John M. Lyons.
Lyons was a member of the 101st Airborne Division in the U.S. Army and died Sept. 16, 1968, at the age of 20. He was born in Philadelphia, but spent most of his life living in Bucks County.
Previous Memorial: Upper Bucks County bridge dedicated to Vietnam solider killed in Vietnam
Lyons is the 22nd veteran Bucks County officials and members the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund have honored with a bridge namesake here.
“It means to them (families of lost soldiers) their loved one is not forgotten that we as community remember them,” said Ed Preston, the president of the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
“There is now a place for them to go other than a cemetery that they can see their name written on a plaque that anyone can see.”
Anna Lyons and other members of the community gathered at the Cpl. John M. Lyons U.S. Army Memorial Bridge.
While the bridge has Lyons’ full name, many called him by his nickname “Cub,” including his wife, Anna Lyons. Anna’s older brother, Pete, introduced the two, and they became high school sweethearts.
Decades later, Anna still remembered the impact Lyons had on those around him.
“When he walked down the street, there was a senior citizen, and he was about 16 or 17, and the guy was mowing his lawn, and he said, ‘Here, I’ll finish that for you,'” Anna said.
“That’s the kind of person he was … What teenager does that? You’re so busy going to hang out with the guys or play basketball, the last thing you’re thinking about is sitting down with an old man,” she added, noting many other instances where Lyons went out of his way to be kind to someone.
Several officials from the county came to show their support, including retired Judge Pat Dogan, Bensalem Council President Ed Tokmajian and Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bridge in Bensalem named after Bucks County soldier killed in Vietnam