Lucy’s Boys Reunion

At 7 p.m. on March 29, Patriots Point will host a free program aboard the USS Yorktown to honor the life and selfless actions of Lucy Caldwell. In March 1966, 56-year-old widow, Mrs. Charles (Lucy) Caldwell, left the comforts of her home in Princeton, NJ, and purchased a one-way ticket to Saigon despite knowing no one in Southeast Asia. Lucy was disturbed by images of war protests, draft card bonfires, and the desecration of the American flag she was seeing on TV. Ultimately, Lucy volunteered with the United Service Organization (USO) to support service members in the Vietnam War. Over the next 34 months, Lucy solicited care packages, hosted dinners, talked with critically wounded men, read to them, and wrote letters home to their families.

Lucy passed away on February 28, 1979. One Marine’s daughter, Tara McClary Reeves, is working to ensure her story is told, along with the narratives of those brave men she encouraged. Tara nicknamed them “Lucy’s Boys.”

The National Vietnam War Veterans Day program will feature the first and second episodes of the PBS documentary series “Lucy Caldwell” and then a fireside chat with as many of “Lucy’s Boys” as can be found.

Admission is free but you must RSVP to attend. For tickets, click here.