Honoring veterans of the Vietnam War

By Carl Young

It's finally official. 35-years after the war ended in Vietnam, a welcoming home for the Veterans of the Vietnam war has been established.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill last September, AB 717, which calls for an annual "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" on March 30. The Board of Supervisors, and local cities will be doing resolutions supporting it. Sadly, local veterans are deeply split on the issue of even having a day for Vietnam veterans.

Our country was deeply divided during the Vietnam war, and at times some people were hostile to the returning veterans. Those memories still haunt some Vietnam veterans. The damage done to our fellow Vietnam veterans, and their families, is incalculable. Many will never see their “Welcome Home,” because they are slowly dying with ailments resulting from Agent Orange exposure.

I support the establishment of this long overdue day of remembrance, in which 58,000 U.S. troops died and more than 300,000 were wounded. These statistics don't include the number of suicides, mental health, destroyed families and the illnesses directed associated with our service.

Additionally there is the possibility that many other birth defects and aliments suffered by our children are because of their parents exposure to Agent Orange. The Department of Veterans Affairs only recognizes a few birth defects like Spina bifida.

I think Daniel L. Lawrence, President, of the Humboldt Memorial Chapter 781, Vietnam Veterans of America summed it up well, “We are the only defenders of freedom in this country to be vilified, berated and shunned by our own people. If this resolution brings peace to many Vietnam vets, then I am all for it.”

”It's said that time heals all wounds. I guess not enough time has passed for me to heal my wounds. I am pleased that our country has chosen to not place the blame for this current war on those who are doing the fighting, instead of placing the blame where it belongs on our so called leadership. For all the problems these new veterans will face, being shunned by their own people will not be one of them.”

Maybe, California's enactment of a special day to recognize Vietnam veterans will encourage other states to follow, someday making it a national holiday. I also support the idea of establishing a similar day for the forgotten veterans of the Korean War. It's the very least we can do for those who served so faithfully.

I encourage everyone to attend the reading of the Resolutions with the following government agencies: Humboldt County Board of Supervisors - March 23 at 9 a.m.; the Fortuna City Council meeting - March 15 at 6 p.m.; Ferndale (already presented March 4); Rio Dell City Council - March 16 at 6:30 p.m., and the City of Arcata - March 17, at 6 p.m. As far as I know, there aren't any other plans locally to recognize this special day for Vietnam veterans on March 30.

Lastly, I would like to thank the folks at the Eureka VA and Mental Health Clinics for the excellent care I have received. I'm hopeful the VA can further support local medical providers and our veterans through the "fee basis" program, and the establishment of local VA specialty clinics. The professionalism of the staff, has been remarkable, as well as the coordination of care with local providers.

Carl Young

Fortuna

veterans rights advocate