PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—Pascack Press is honored to share this message to our veterans and their families from Vincent F. Immiti, Medical Center Director/CEO at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of National Vietnam War Veterans Day. It’s worth everybody’s time.
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Veterans, today, March 29, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. While this commemoration is focused specifically on thanking and honoring our 6 million living Vietnam veterans and the 9 million families of those who served during the Vietnam War period, I’d like to take a moment to address all our veterans and their families.
Since the birth of the United States, no single generation of Americans has been spared the responsibility of defending freedom by force of arms. More than 44 million American men and women have sacrificed and served in time of war—many here counted among them. Your collective service and individual sacrifices have safeguarded the cherished concepts embodied in our Constitution.
Whether deployed in harm’s way, all the while watching over your buddies as they watched over you, or training and serving at home station, you sacrificed. Our country, our families and our children owe you a debt of gratitude.
In 2008, the Secretary of Defense was authorized by law to conduct a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The inaugural event took place at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, commonly known as “The Wall,” in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day, 2012.
President Obama was the keynote speaker, and this groundbreaking event was attended by the most senior military and civilian leaders, but most importantly, thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families… the true VIPs.
The president’s words were powerful, as he said:
“One of the most painful chapters in our history was Vietnam—most particularly, how we treated our troops who served there.
“You were often blamed for a war you didn’t start, when you should have been commended for serving your country with valor. You were sometimes blamed for misdeeds of a few, when the honorable service of the many should have been praised. You came home and sometimes were denigrated, when you should have been celebrated.
“It was a national shame, a disgrace that should have never happened. And that’s why here today we resolve that it will not happen again.”
Now, all military families endure the hardship of separation, uncertainty and fear; but the families of our Vietnam veterans also witnessed their husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and fathers and mothers return home to a nation in turmoil. They watched as the vast majority received no formal recognition for their service, or welcome home ceremonies hosted by their communities.
These service members, who had chosen to honor our nation’s call, were encouraged to travel home not in uniform, but in civilian clothes. Those who were able quietly slipped back into the lives they had left … although they were profoundly impacted by their experiences.
Like veterans returning from today’s battlefields, those who served in Vietnam came home with both physical and unseen injuries of war. Sadly, many of the unseen injuries suffered by our Vietnam veterans went undiagnosed and weren’t understood by our medical community, or citizenry, as they are now. Veterans were left to meet these challenges without the outpouring of assistance available today.
Far too many who fought in Vietnam never experienced that return home or the chance to marry and have children or grandchildren. Their future was cut short; their hopes and dreams along with it. And the families of those who didn’t return, whose names are etched on the Wall, experienced the painful loss of a loved one without the collective support of their nation.
Yes, history makes crystal clear the importance of this commemoration. Vietnam was a long war, and accordingly a long commemoration period is planned. By presidential proclamation, the commemoration extends from Memorial Day 2012 through Veterans Day 2025. Our armed forces served in Vietnam under six different presidents.
President Truman authorized the first U.S. advisors to serve with the French, and President Ford was in office at the conclusion.
Their sacrifices were many: 58,297 names appear on the Wall; their average age … 23.1 years. Many tens of thousands were disabled. Approximately 7,500 women, most of whom were nurses, served in Vietnam; eight were killed in theater, all nurses.
And 1,585 are still considered missing in action as their families await word of their fate.
These facts give us some context and understanding of the true cost of war. It is not measured in dollars and cents, but in lives. Neighbors, friends, and family members who come home with seen and unseen scars that need mending and extensive care, or do not come home at all.
These facts also are best understood by those who served … and their families. Some continued to serve in uniform, while many returned to civilian life, started families, and immediately began contributing to their communities. Some took up service as police officers, teachers, doctors, and nurses. From town halls and boardrooms to the nation’s capital, others became leaders and elected public servants.
Vietnam veterans also mentored those that followed them in uniform and built the foundations of today’s military. Their experience and leadership led to successes in Panama, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
As World War II and the Korean War reached their 50th anniversaries, our nation commemorated our warriors’ service and sacrifice. Now, authorized by Congress and the president, and on behalf of the nation, we have the opportunity to do what should have been done 50 years ago: welcome our Vietnam veterans home with honor, and thank them and their families for their service and sacrifice.
I ask that everyone, take a moment today and recognize the service and sacrifice of these men and women, and be part of the “welcome home” you so richly deserve!
Thank you, and may God continue to bless our troops, our veterans, their families, and our wonderful country.