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Vietnam Veterans Get Emotional ‘Welcome Home’ (With Photo Gallery)
March 29, 2015
It was a tearful welcome home Saturday for a small group of Vietnam veterans….a welcome home decades overdue.
National Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day is observed on March 29, the 42nd 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.
For a long time, Vietnam veteran Mike Hanks, one of Saturday’s guest speakers, said he did not talk about the Vietnam War. “I didn’t figure anybody wanted to hear about it.”
He related the story of his “Freedom Flight” home following his tour, and of the business woman sitting next to him on that plane. Her reaction to being seated next to a returning solider from Vietnam and what she said to the stewardess still resonates deeply with Hanks, an Ernest Ward High School graduate.
“I want a different seat; I don’t want to sit by a baby killer,” she said loudly.
“That hurt me more than anything, because she couldn’t understand how much I love kids. and it hurt,” an emotional Hanks said, as other veterans in the audience were visible moved. One veteran grabbed his walking cane and made his way a short distance away.
“It hurts. I just can’t stand it, still. It’s been a long time. Oh man, why did he say ‘baby killer’? We were all called that, and it still hurts so much,” the veteran said, standing under the American flagpole. Tears streamed down his face. “Oh it still hurts so much. We were just doing what we were told for our country.”
“Words cannot describe how much it helps the healing process for you to have something like this for our veterans,” Hanks concluded as he thanked the organizers of the welcome home ceremony. “I’ve got news for you. I am a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army. Any I am proud of it, and I’m proud to be an American.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
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.
The ceremony concluded with VFW Ladies Auxiliary members giving each Vietnam Veteran a gift, a handmade card from Bratt Elementary School students 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.
Organizers are already planned a ceremony for the last Saturday in March 2016.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
17 Responses to “Vietnam Veterans Get Emotional ‘Welcome Home’ (With Photo Gallery)”
I continue to be embarrassed by the reception many received upon your return. My father was veteran of the Korean War and WWII and taught us that when you see someone proudly display a cap boldly display their service, you need to extend your hand and thank them for their service. Most vets try to put their bad experiences behind them but I think all are proud of their service to their country.
Mike, you have been instrumental in making sure our local men and women get the respect they deserve, in life and in death. THANK YOU and thanks to all the vets that gave so much to give us the life we are able to lead now.
my mother is Ginger Stabler, she helped to put this event on. Just hearing her talk about it would make her cry. She really enjoys making these Veterans feel apprieciated and special. They deserve so much more, and thank you momma for help making them feel special.
I will always remember the time my father was gone during the Vietnam War (I know they say it was a conflict or police action but it was a war no matter what they say) I remember the planes flying over the house play taps. I knew enough to understand that it meant my Dad may not come home. And I will always remember the day the cab pulled up in the yard and my Dad got out. I know the men and women who fight for our country will live with it the rest of their lives. It will never go away not totally. I remember the screams that would wake me up at night after my Dad came home and I remember the blank looks that would come over him. He fought in Korea and Vietnam. And he will always be my Hero. You are ALL my Heroes. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart. To all of you who came home and the fallen who did not. Because of YOU I am free and my Son is free. You will never be forgotten.
Long overdue to a deserving group of patriots…The conditions that they returned to were undeserving and hopefully there will be some healing.
Know many Vietnam Vets [including my brother and several cousins] and they as a group continue to be nothing but classy—many of them vowed that no other soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors would ever return to such conditions and lack of support so they are and have been once again on the front lines welcoming back today’s heroes from today’s conflicts and also escorting those that paid the ultimate price to their final resting places. They’ve fought through their situations and made a positive out of a huge negative…another addition of the GREATEST GENERATION! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Welcome Home!
Welcome Home
“There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs,
Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn’t exist in the world, and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn’t know how to protect themselves.
Those are the sheep.
Then you’ve got predators, who use violence to prey on the weak. They’re the wolves.
And then there are those blessed with the gift of aggression, an overpowering need to protect the flock.
These men are the rare breed who live to confront the wolf.”
(American Sniper quote)
I TOO KNOW WHAT MIKE HANK WAS TAKING ABOUT,AS IT HAPPEN TO ME AS I CAME INTO THE AIRPORT AT SAN FRANCISCO CALFORNIA ATER MY TOUR IN VIETMAN. THERE WAS A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE STANDING THERE SHOUTING TO EACH OF THE VETERANS, TO THERE FACE CALLING THEM BABY KILLER, IF ONLY THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT IT COST IN LIFES OVER THE YEARS FROM 1776 TO NOW AND ALL THE WARS, FOR THEM WALK,SHOUT PRAY READ ,AND GO ANY PLACE IN THIS USA WITH HAVING TO SHOW SOME KIND OF A PASS OR PAPERS OR TEELING THEM THEY CANN;T READ THIS OR THAT !! YES THIS FREEDOM DIDN’T COME CHEAP, IT CAME WITH A BIG, BIG PRICE! FOR ALL THOSE GIVING THERE LIFE FOR THAT FREEDOM ALL OVER THE WORLD I TO WILL SAY THANKS YOU TO MY FELLOW VETERANS FOR SERVICES TO THIS USA
I TOO, WOULD HAVE LIKE TO BEEM THERE TOO. AS I KNOW WHAT MIKE HANK WAS TAKLING ABOUT, AS IT TO HAPPAN WITH ME AS I CAME INTO THE AIRPORT AT SAN FRANCISO CALIFORNIN, THERE WAS A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, STANDING THERE SHOUTING BABY KILLER, IF ONLY THEY KNEW THAT THE FREEDOM THAT THEY HAD TO SHOUT AND DO AND GO IIN THIS WORLD, AND ALL THE LIFES IT COST OVER THE YEARS FROM 1776 AND DOWN THOUGH TIME MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE SAID THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS FREEDOM
Sorry WIlliam. I have only been to the front page and never clicked on any of the tabs. I will do so from now on. I didn’t see the story either. It’s been a week or two since I was the site.
>>>Too bad this rag of a news outlet didn’t make the public AWARE BEFORE HAND so more people could have attended…I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE THERE!!!
This “rag of a news outlet” ran the event on our Events page for well over two weeks, and ran a front page story with photos from last year’s event on Thursday, and made numerous posts on Facebook and Twitter.
TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVED IN NAM….
I’m 45 and was too young when you men went into a battle with your hands tied!!!
All of AMERICA owes you a debt of gratitude!!! If I were old enolugh when you men came home and anyone would have called you a baby killer, etc then I would have put my own boot straight in their mouth…
THANK YOU BRAVE MEN FOR SERVING AMERICA!!!!
Too bad this rag of a news outlet didn’t make the public AWARE BEFORE HAND so more people could have attended…I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE THERE!!!
guess i’m a little different. i enlisted in 69 in the Marines. volunteered for vietnam. did my tour which involved considerable combat. my great grandfather served, my grandfather, father, and his brother. we did it for us. our family, our country. we were raised to be grateful for this country. getting home was my celebration. having a family, working, and a slew of kids and grandkids. thats all i need. i can understand how some vets feel slighted. i don’t. i can still put up old glory in my yard every day. that’s enough for me.
I too salute our Vietnam Veterans; if not for them and other veterans we would not have the freedoms we take for granted. They can tell you that freedom is not free; that it comes at a high cost to such men and women who serve their country.
Thanks to all who attended yesterday; thanks to all who honored the Vietnam Veterans with yellow ribbons and other gestures of honor; but mist of all thanks to the Vietnam Veterans for their service and sacrifices. welcome home!
I am 49 years old. I nor did my father have to serve in Vietnam. But without what these Men and Women did for our Country, I wouldn’t have had the freedom I have today. I would like to personally thank each and every one of them for fighting a War that I’m sure at the time they seen pointless. I can only imagine what all of them have to live with every day and the sleepless nights they all have. To all of you, please walk with your heads high and know that what you fought for was for all the freedom we have today and that’s something for all of you to be proud of. All of our kids as well as their kids will always have the freedom you all made possible. Thank you again, Mike/Jennifer and our entire family.
Thanks Veterans. I thank each and every Vietnam Veteran should have a stimoules plan. JUST SAYING.
Long over due. It is sad that it has taken so long for them to get the recognition they so rightfully deserved.
It was an emotional time with different points of view then. There are many who carry emotional scars as well as the physical ones. I want to thank each and every one of these veterans for their service. They served their country when others ran away. God bless you, each and every one.