Members of the community and members of the American Legion Post 94 gathered Friday morning to commemorate National Vietnam War Veterans Day, and to reflect on the 58,220 U.S. military casualties, prisoners of war, and living and deceased veterans from the Vietnam War era.
Guest speakers included Bob Carnagey, state commander of the Disabled Veterans of America; Malcolm King, commandant of the Dunes Leathernecks of Porter County; Charlie Hicks, Vietnam Veterans of America Porter County Chapter 905; and Post Commander Christine Martel.
“A veteran, whether active duty, retired, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount of and up to and including their life,” said Carnagey. “That is an honor.”
“There are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand this fact, that veterans are called to duty that may include the taking of their lives,” said Carnagey.
“Vietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families as a part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 50 years ago,” said Martel.
Historically, this day has been marked significantly by those who served in Vietnam since 1974. In 2012, President Barack Obama signed a presidential proclamation designating March 29 as the annual observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day, according to information on the U.S. Department of Defense website. In 2017, President Donald Trump signed into law the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, which included amending the U.S. flag code to include this day as a day on which the flag should be flown.
The Color Guard from American Legion Post 94 in Valparaiso prepares to fire three blank shots as part of the commemoration of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Deena Lawley-Dixon/for Post-Tribune)
“It was on this date in 1973 that the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam, and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived home on American soil,” said Martel.
“We pay tribute to the more than 3,000,000 servicemen and women who left their families to serve bravely, away from everyone they knew and everything they loved,” said Martel. “Through more than a decade of combat, these proud Americans upheld the highest traditions of our armed forces.”
“We draw inspiration from those who suffered unspeakably as prisoners of war that returned with their heads held high,” said Martel. “We still carry the scars of war, seen and unseen.”
“We never got a welcome when we came home, and everybody knows that,” said Hicks. “I was very fortunate to come into O’Hare Airport, people just simply ignored me like I wasn’t there. That was so much better than the ones that got spit on and cursed at and everything else.”
Joe Baczynski, sergeant-at-arms of the Valparaiso American Legion Post 94, rings the bell one time for each name read of those lost in the Vietnam War on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Deena Lawley-Dixon/for Post-Tribune)
“People started realizing this was no way to treat veterans,” said Hicks. “I am glad that this day to come around, while some of us are still around.”
“It wasn’t a good time during those years,” said King, who just buried a friend recently that he served with in Vietnam. “All I can think of is the fact that we need a moment of silent prayer for those who did not make it home. It hurts me to think about it.”
“They haven’t aged when I think of them,” said Carnegey, referring to his comrades who died in Vietnam at age 21 and 23. “We all know that someone who is on the wall or has passed because of other military experiences are never really dead as long as we continue to say their names.”
“May our observance be a timely reminder that our freedom was purchased at high cost and should not be taken for granted,” said Jim Atkinson, post chaplain. “Let us not forget those who never returned.”
Deena Lawley-Dixon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
