I want to take this opportunity to do what President Obama suggested 2012 on the
50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and say " Thank You and welcome Home" for the sacrafice made during the Vietnam War.
This war was unpopular and rightly so, but men and women served and gave up much when either the draft notice arrived as well as those who joined to get a jump on the draft.
I also have much respect for those who fought to end this horrible war,
The President had this to say in 2012
During a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC on Monday afternoon, President Obama celebrated the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War by honoring its veterans.
Standing before the dark granite wall bearing the names of the 58,282 Americans who died as a result of the war in Vietnam, Obama touched on the nation’s historically contentious relationship with the veterans from one of its most controversial military engagements.
Yes it was so horrible and many still live with the aftermath of war.
“One of the most painful chapters in our history was Vietnam, most particularly how we treated our troops who served there,” the president said. “You were often blamed for a war you didn’t start, when you should have been commended for serving your country with valor. You were sometimes blamed for misdeeds of a few, when the honorable service of the many should have been praised. You came home and sometimes were denigrated, when you should have been celebrated. It was a national shame, a disgrace that should have never happened. And that's why here today we resolve that it will not happen again.”
As the first U.S. president who was too young to have been eligible to serve in Vietnam, on Monday Obama became the first president to speak at the memorial wall since 1993.
The end of March is Welcome Home VietNam Veterans Day.. March 30th. The best way to honor these men and women is to give them a timely claim review in the backlog sitting on so many Adjudication VA desks. These veterans are older and sick. They need to have their claim reviews in a timely fashion. We also need to make sure ALL veterans of ALL wars get safe and timely medical care. The VA has some of the best medical care in the country but many VA facilities lack the oversight needed and the veteran population is rising to an all time high with two other wars winding down and soldiers coming home.
We need to make sure our sexually abused female troops receive the recognition of respect and treatment they so deserve from all of us. Senator Bernie Sanders is doing a great job with speaking out and making people aware that this is our duty to help those who have been and still being forgotten.
Veterans returning from Vietnam expected a very different reception than the one many of them received. Having heard their fathers' stories and seen the Hollywood movies that celebrated the heroic welcome and homecoming that World War I, World War II, and Korean War vets received, Vietnam vets were deserving of something similar -- even more so. In contrast, Vietnam vets were often surprised and disappointed to be greeted very differently - often with indifference and sometimes even anger.
http://www.welcomehomeday.org/...
We have learned little from wars past and present.
We must learn than the wars of the past should teach us to stop the wars of the future.
Many do not realize that an anverage of 400 soldiers of the VN war die daily.
Very many over the span of 50 years have committed suicide. ( something we are seeing again at an alarming rate from Iraq and Afghanistan.)
From the Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
RITTMAN, Ohio — The cracking of rifle fire silenced the twittering blue jays, blackbirds and killdeer. As members of the color guard lowered their rifles, the smell of bitter smoke drifted over the family and friends of former Army Sgt. Ellis Hale, a Vietnam War veteran who died of prostate cancer at age 59. Sniffles and gentle sobs accompanied a recording of taps.
We bury over 1800 veterans a day.
Some of you do not want a thanks for your service or a Welcome Home.
I do not know how else to honor you but to say these small words and get out and try to advocate for your better treatment and to say, " I appreciate your service , despite the war."
God bless the families suffering from war trauma and live it everyday and thanks to IGTNT right here.
Moments after the final note, Sherry Hale walked down a curved brick walkway past the saluting line of representatives of the country's past wars. Head bowed, she clutched to her chest the American flag that covered her husband's casket
The soldiers of peace have a special place in my heart because honoring a veteran is for us to stop making so darn many.
Please do no pie fight in this diary. I am married to one of these Vietnam combat Vets. We have many veterans on here and this diary is meant as a reminder for peace and to say thank you for those who gave so much. Many gave life, limbs, careers, peace of mind, families and health. Please be kind !