Veteran Column: G.I. Joe’s Vietnam War Veterans sat down at the LCCOA Senior Center
On March 19th, the G.I. Joe’s Vietnam War Veterans sat down at the LCCOA Senior Center as they provided them with the long-overdue "welcome home". These kinds of community gestures, gift bags, the salutes, and especially the hugs that the veterans received that day meant the world to those who didn't receive that kind of recognition decades ago.
There were no parades, no banners and no one called heroes. Just their hometown where everything looked the same. However, the people were not the same. The war was supposed to be over. But as they sat down together, sharing their stories, they knew that they had brought the ghost of the Vietnam War With them. They were back, but the boys who had left were not boys anymore.
During their return home the Vietnam War Veterans were spit on, called baby killers and they even had raw eggs thrown at them, just to name a few.
The oldest Vietnam War Veteran Mr. Palmer, asked the other veterans the following” Why is it that during the war we showered together, ate together, slept together, walked through mud and water together and now that we are home and the war is over it’s like we are strangers? We don’t even speak to each other when we meet on the street. Can anyone answer that. The room grew quiet and a few seconds then a civilian responded” I can assure you that if you ever meet the Veterans from G.I. Joe’s Veteran’s Museum anywhere and you have on your military hat, anyone of them will shake your hand and thank you for your service.”
Small, local ceremonies like this often have the biggest impact on Veterans because they feel personal and sincere.
Eddie Portz
Veteran Ambassador
