Feel-Good Friday: Alabama's Vietnam Veterans Finally Get Recognized on the War's 50th Anniversary

This week's Feel-Good Friday is an homage to our Vietnam veterans. I was honored to attend a "Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemorative Lapel Pin Ceremony" at the University of North Alabama in downtown Florence. U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) is on the House of Representatives' Veterans' Affairs Committee, so he wanted to honor the Vietnam veterans in his district to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

April 30, 1975, marked the Fall of Saigon, and the inglorious end to the Vietnam War, where over 58,000 men and women never made it home. Sadly, America is still trying to rectify the terrible treatment this particular group of veterans received, and in some ways is still receiving. Because of the controversy over the war and its outcomes, on their return home, many Vietnam veterans suffered scorn and abuse, and did not receive the help and services they rightly deserved and desperately needed. In contrast to the World War II veterans returning from war--who received parades, accolades, and thanks--for the Vietnam veterans, there were no parades. The majority of the American people also shunned them, rather than embraced them, making their integration back into society difficult.

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Part of Rep. Aderholt's aim in organizing these ceremonies was to apologize for that, and to acknowledge their service and sacrifice in what was a difficult war and a difficult period in our nation's history. A press release about the events quoted him as saying:

“These men and women served our nation with courage during a difficult chapter in our history, and many never received the recognition they so rightfully deserved when they returned home. These ceremonies are a small but heartfelt way to say, ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation."

One of the veterans I spoke with, Sgt. Thomas McKnight (Ret. Air Force), was simply glad to be alive to see it. At 80 years old, he had suffered a stroke that could have been catastrophic. But he was recovering well, able to get around without a cane, and spoke in complete sentences without a hitch. Sgt. McKnight's beautiful smile reflected his gratitude toward being acknowledged after too many decades.

I knew my nearby neighbor and local honey supplier, Charles "Fred" Joly, was a veteran, but I did not know he had served in Vietnam, so it was a privilege to see him get his pin. Joly was there with his wife Linda, and he proudly allowed me to photograph his pin, along with his beautiful bride.

The entire crowd was over 400, with 177 veterans in attendance to receive their pin and certificate. Many veterans had passed away within the 50-year time span, so their children or a loved one stood in proxy for them. One daughter carried the picture of her veteran father, as she proudly received the commemorative pin in his honor.

Veteran Leonard Sheffield was guided by his son, John, as he walked up to receive his pin. Sheffield said, "My son takes care of me. He does everything for me."

I had observed them both as they entered the building, and John reflected his love and care for his father as he helped him through the hall and found just the right seat. It was his joy to ensure his father was there to receive this significant recognition.

And it was the joy of UNA staff and students, the people of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield (the Shoals), and other cities in North Alabama who were in attendance to cheer each and every veteran on as they stepped up to be venerated. That is the great joy of living in a small town. Whether it's family, friends, or a neighbor, the community comes together to celebrate and embrace what is good. Being surrounded by the weight of history, along with the impact of a community that seeks to honor those who served, was an encouraging and uplifting way to start the weekend.

One veteran wore a shirt that read, "All gave some. Some gave all." Amen. If there is a Vietnam veteran in your life or community, perhaps find a way to show them your gratitude for their service, which has too long been disregarded.

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