submitted by Gail Smith
It is no secret that those who served during the Vietnam era didn’t receive a proper welcome home when they returned from war. Many were told to remove their uniforms before going to the airport so they would not be recognized as soldiers upon their return to the U.S. Some of our very own were insulted and spit upon instead of being treated as heroes.
[private] Voice of a Vet, Heroes at Home and the American Legion Post 40 are on a mission, through our Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Celebration, to right that which was so terribly wrong all those years ago.
Our Welcome Home will take place on Saturday, August 8, at Wood Park in Hoosick Falls. A parade will kick off at 10 am, which will be followed by the recognition of our veterans and presentation of service certificates, then lunch, live music and more.
Transportation in the parade will be provided for those Vietnam Veterans who wish to ride.
We invite local groups, churches, organizations and individuals to participate in the parade with a float, banner or thank you signs, or whatever other creative ways you can think of, so long it is a tribute to our vets.
If you have family members or friends who served during the Vietnam era, living or deceased, we encourage you to make posters with their names on them (and maybe even a photo) and march in the parade or display it along the sidelines in their honor. We will have a place for all of them to be hung in the park after the parade.
There is no way we can undo the harm that was inflicted on our servicemen and women all those years ago, but we can do the right thing right now and give them their honor due and a proper Welcome Home. We hope you’ll be there to help us.
If you or your group would like to participate in the parade with something other than signs (i.e. float), contact Tom McMartin at 686-5075 by July 24. If you’d like to make signs, just show up, there will be a place for you.
We are also on a quest to find all Town of Hoosick servicemen and women who served during the Vietnam era. If you are one of them or know of someone who is, please call or e-mail Gail Smith (518-686-9888 / pray4you@wildblue.net) so she can get some information out to you/them. We are also asking family members of deceased veterans to give us a call.
Any other questions or suggestions can be directed to Gail or Joyce Brewer at 258-5772. [/private]