Vietnam Veterans Get Long Overdue ‘Welcome Home’ (With Gallery)

March 30, 2014

It was a tearful welcome home Saturday for a small group of Vietnam veterans….a welcome home 40, 50 or even more years overdue.

“When I came home to California, I kissed the ground. And I looked around,” said Alabama VFW State Commander Val Obergon, pausing for a moment. “And I looked around. Nothing. There were no parades; no welcome home. Nothing.”

National Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day is observed on March 29, the 41st anniversary of the last U.S. troops leaving Vietnam — except for the prisoners of war. Saturday, a few dozen people gathered for a ceremony sponsored by the Atmore Memorial Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 7016.

“I am thankful to God for this day we can be welcomed home. I have a family sitting here today. Some of the other guys represented by this flag,” Vietnam veteran Harold Askew said, standing before the POW/MIA flag, “they didn’t get that chance.”

Yellow ribbons were tied to trees around Atmore’s Heritage Park for the event which included the patriotic music, food and fanfare of a welcome home ceremony most of the Vietnam veterans in attendance had never received.

“It was a special thank you and tribute to those that came back,” Vietnam veteran Mike Hanks said. “It’s something that was long overdue.”

“Those that served in the Vietnam War are deserving of our country’s praise,” Alabama Rep. Alan Baker said in an address to the group. “They are our unsung heroes.”

Baker ended his speech in the crowd, with a personal “thank you” and a hug for each veteran. “No sir,” the state representative said to an elderly veteran who struggled in an unsuccessful attempt to rise from his chair. “I’ll come down there to you.”

The ceremony concluded with VFW Ladies Auxiliary members giving each Vietnam Veteran a gift and a hug — and sometimes a quick kiss on the cheek — to thank them for their service. It was a scene reminiscent of a welcome home ceremony that has played itself out over and over for other American wars.

And tears that were decades overdue fell from the eyes of several veterans as they were finally welcomed home.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Pictured top: Veterans are welcomed home during national Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day Saturday in Atmore. Pictured top inset: Vietnam Veteran Harold Askew remembers the prisoners of war that never returned from Vietnam. Pictured bottom inset: Alabama Rep. Alan Baker leans down to hug a veteran that struggled unsuccessfully to rise from his chair.  Pictured below: A yellow ribbon tied around an oak tree welcomed the Vietnam veterans home. Pictured bottom: Several of the Vietnam veterans in attendance at Saturday’s event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

19 Responses to “Vietnam Veterans Get Long Overdue ‘Welcome Home’ (With Gallery)”

  1. HAROLD PEARSON on April 2nd, 2014 8:09 am

    I SERVED IN VIETNAM FOR 27 MONTHS 5 DAYS. AWARDED TWO PURPLE
    HEARTS. II DID NOT MAKE THE WELCOME HOME PARTY, I WAS WELCOMED HOME WITH TOMATOES AND EGGS IN SEATTLE WA. I MYSELF FEEL THE MEN I
    LEFT BEHIND AND THE MEN ON THE WALL NEEDS THE PRAISE. MYSELF I
    FEEL FOR THE VETS HOW ARE RETURNING HOME NOW.

    I AM PROUD OF MY COUNTRY AND MY FELLOW VETS. GOD IS THE ONLY ONE
    WHO CAN HEAL THE VOID AND PAIN. I ALSO THANK THOSE WHO PUT THE
    WELCOME HOME GATHERING ON. IT JUST 40 YEARS TO LATE FOR ME.

  2. William Garrison on April 1st, 2014 11:07 am

    I am a Vietnam Veteran, served in the 3rd Marine Division in I Corps of South Vietnam. Not many people who knew me then knew that I spent 13 months in Vietnam. My wife helped me to get my life back into order. I still get flash backs, and have at times bad dreams and nightmares. But my wife of 50 years is always there, I reach out in the darkness of the room and feel her in bed beside and that sometimes is enough to bring me back into reality.

    For many years, I did not like Jane Fonda (Hanoi Jane) as known by the Vietnam Veterans. But in the several past several years I even forgave her. I would like to meet her someday and shake her hand and maybe even giver a hug before my time on earth ends. But I know that is only a dream that won’t come true. After all that is part of what we fought for, protecting our Country and our way of life. God bless America, our veterans past and present, and there families.

    Semperfi……

  3. B Henderson on April 1st, 2014 7:04 am

    The Vietnam War was on TV news everyday. This was my era, my friends who were so young and went to a country most had never heard of and put their all in a war that was called a “conflict” as for history purposes. This war claimed so many young men, changed lives of just as many. There are not enough words to say THANK YOU to our veterans for their sacrifices. Everyday should be honor our veterans day. Both the ones who returned and especially the ones who gave their young lives for this country. THANK YOU.

  4. Atmore G on March 31st, 2014 5:09 pm

    I lost two good friends in the Vietnam War.. I am glad to see these vets honored.. They all served in one of the most brutal conflicts this country has ever been involved in.. My thanks to all these men and women for their service..

  5. Just a teen on March 31st, 2014 2:55 pm

    These men deserved it. They took time away from their families to protect our families and our beloved country. I may have not have been alive during this time but I’m still thankful for these men and their service. And nap ways thank them when I see them in public. Welcome Home and thank you for your service men! :)

  6. Carol on March 31st, 2014 10:30 am

    I am not a resident of Escambia County, but I am the wife of a Vietnam Vet and the Welcome Home and Thank You is long overdue. Brave young men that upon coming home weren’t treated with respect and appreciation. Just ignored are jeered at.

  7. William on March 30th, 2014 8:48 pm

    >>northescambia.com should have informed the public of such a grand occasion as this.

    Agreed. But no one let us know about it….I saw a post on Facebook Saturday afternoon that it was coming up in a few hours. If we had known in advance, we would have promoted it. Judging the from the comments, we could have increased the attendance several times over.

  8. melodies4us on March 30th, 2014 8:00 pm

    northescambia.com should have informed the public of such a grand occasion as this. This is my first time hearing about it. This community would have stormed a welcome home in their honor. To all veterans of Vietnam: Thank you beyond what words can express. You did the right thing. You are the thread that kept this country tied together.

  9. danyel on March 30th, 2014 2:00 pm

    That my pal pal and uncle shrug…

  10. jcellops on March 30th, 2014 1:22 pm

    i thank the viet nam vets! i, too, would have been there to honor them had i known about it….thank you, for your service, from the bottom of my heart.

  11. Mr. Reality on March 30th, 2014 12:17 pm

    If I had known about this I would have been there with a sign in hand welcoming these here’s home!!! THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM!!! You are our hero’s too!!!

  12. nod on March 30th, 2014 8:51 am

    sam, you hit the nail right on the head. i feel exactly the same as you.

  13. Preston on March 30th, 2014 8:43 am

    Wish I had Known about it I would have like to have came to it.

  14. Sam on March 30th, 2014 7:50 am

    My grandfather sreved in ww1, father and uncle ww2, i had been brought up to love my country. I enlisted in the marines and served in vietnam. Coming home only mom and dad met me at the aiport in pensacola. I never expected or wanted anything else. I am an american. I feel priveleged to have served. Thank you, America.

  15. E on March 30th, 2014 7:39 am

    WELCOME HOME BROTHERS…………………WELCOME HOME.

  16. david on March 30th, 2014 7:33 am

    wish i had known of welcome home i would have came to it.

  17. 429SCJ on March 30th, 2014 7:28 am

    American politicians should never engage in war for the sake of satiating the military industrial complex, or the ambitions of a client state.

    Our Vietnam Veterans followed their orders and served with honor and distinction.
    I wish to acknowledge and thank them for their brave sacrifices.

  18. Jane on March 30th, 2014 5:44 am

    I watched the Vietnam war start and end. It was a very political time, but I always felt that these veterans deserved more than they got from the American people. Welcome home and Thank you! Not enough and so late, but thank you from my heart.

  19. mnon on March 30th, 2014 2:56 am

    Being a child of the era and having a father, and uncles in the war I always felt our Vietnam Vets deserved more than they got. Say what you will about the war these men and women deserve all the honors, praises and salutes they get and then some.

    To all the vets and PoWs I salute you and thank you for the sacrifices you made for this country. All of you have my respect.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News