Welcome Home!
It's taken a while to welcome home those soldiers who fought
in Southeast Asia in the 60s and 70s
They came home to hate for what they did for their country
Some had a choice while most didn't.
Young men all and far too many lost their lives on foreign soil
Mourned by family and friends but not by the nation
back in the 60s and 70s
I am so proud of Husband Jim
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| This is my all time favorite picture of Jim -- taken in Vietnam |
At 17 he joined the Air Force
At 20 he volunteered for Vietnam
He served three tours
He came home
To a country who didn't appreciate what he did for his country.
Today, throughout most of the Nation
It is
Vietnam Veteran's Day
But in Kansas, it's Welcome Home, Vietnam Veterans Day
Enacted into law in 2014
I'm proud that our nation finally recognized
the sacrifices of the men who served in the Viet Nam War
Yesterday
Our National Cemetery
(National Cemetery Number One)
hosted an event for local Vietnam Veterans
A small program with a speaker
And a commemorative lapel pin for each Veteran present
Old men now, these heroes of Southeast Asia
Who proudly served their country
And came home
A lapel pin for these Vets to wear proudly
From a grateful nation
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| Jim's favorite ball cap |
Vietnam Vets
Welcome Home!
6 comments:
I didn't know about this holiday. My dad served as a medic. So nice that these brave men are getting recognized for their hard work and bravery.
Thank you to your husband for his service. It really was such a tragedy on how our military was treated during the Viet Nam war and afterwards. I hope the late welcome homes will help with emotional healing...
In the early 70's The Great Dane and I were living just outside Philadelphia where he was posted with the Canadian Air Force on exchange. We knew many career military men who had been/were on their way/were in Vietnam. I will never, ever forget their loyalty and belief in their duty. It's so good that your state is recognising the veterans and honouring them.
I am of this generation and always felt very sad at the way the soldiers were greeted when they returned from Viet Nam...(What a good thing spell check is not automatic here since it wanted me to write "Diet Nam". Maybe it should be one word? )I was always a little confused about this "conflict" and remember reading newspapers in my high school library in 1962, trying to figure out how this happened. Or even what had happened, exactly. But my research was not that successful.....When I married ten years later my husband took a job at a university in Germany for a few years. When we returned the war was still happening but my oldest child was born April 30th, 1975, the day South Vietnam surrendered. All so sad. But I appreciate the service and sacrifice and suffering of our troops and am glad to hear about this holiday......
Martha,
I agree, we as a Nation and a State waited far too long to recognize our Vietnam Veterans.
Thank you for sharing the events in your hometown of Fort Scott, dear friend!
Thank you to husband, Jim, for his years of Service. I'm glad he came home!
Fondly,
Pat
What a lovely tribute to your Vietnam Vets.
carolyn
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