Vietnam vets remember for their service, sacrifice

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NEWBURGH – Veterans and veteran families honored the service and sacrifice of Vietnam War Veterans, Monday, at the Orange County Veteran’s Memorial, for National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

Vietnam War Veterans Day became a national holiday in 2017 and is held on March 29th, the day in 1973 the last of the U.S. troops were withdrawn from Vietnam.

County Veteran Services Director Christian Farrell said Vietnam veterans may be the most forgotten of the groups of living veterans and were definitely treated the worst upon coming home from war. He said it was a long time coming for those servicemen to their own day of recognition and hopes that maltreatment of U.S. soldiers will never happen again.

“There’s an expression that says you may not support the war, but support the warrior and in that case, going back 50 years ago, not even the warriors were supported of our country who wore our uniform,” said Farrell. “Let’s hope that going forward that all the men and women who’ve served our country, or continue to serve our country, during peace or war, are always recognized and we don’t have to have a ceremony like this,” he said.

Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Ch.1782, Rich Drago, said he felt fortunate to come home early and not be subjected to the distain aimed at young, returning veterans. He recalled a specific memory of protestors demanding soldiers remove their uniforms and said he hopes the celebration of this national holiday will set a precedent for civilians to always respect young soldiers and for young soldiers today to have pride in their uniforms.

“The kids today, they should know that they should not have to walk down the block and feel like they need to change their uniforms. They shouldn’t have to take one step out of their uniforms,” said Drago. “This day is a day that reminds me and all the general public that the Vietnam vets, I believe, paved the way for the kids today,” he said.

Residents were encouraged to fly their flags in honor of the 58,000 U.S. soldier lives lost in the Vietnam conflict.

Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties led the Inaugural Observance of National Vietnam Veteran War Day in Orange County as a commitment to the veterans they care for and the veterans in the community.




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