LEWISTON – An early morning ceremony took place at the Veterans Memorial Park when Michael and Christine McMahon, daughter, Dawn Beaucaire, and granddaughters, Alexis and Abigail, were present to lay Thomas J. McMahon’s Purple Heart at the base of the apex where the first stone was laid for the traveling Vietnam Wall.

Specialist Fourth Class Thomas J. McMahon served in the U.S. Army, Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Brigade, Americal Division. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously by distinguishing himself while serving as medical aide with Co. A in Quang Tin Province, Vietnam, on March 19, 1969.

“When the lead elements of his company came under heavy fire from well fortified enemy positions, three soldiers fell seriously wounded. McMahon left his covered position and ran through intense enemy fire. He are mortally wounded before he could rescue the last man.

The Purple Heart will remain under the Apex during the stay of the Vietnam Wall, which will be open to the public through Sunday, Sept. 30. The names of those Maine soldiers killed in Vietnam will be read daily at 3 p.m.

For updates and information on the activities at the wall, visit www.maineamericanlegion.com.