A welcome home for Afghanistan veterans

A welcome home for Afghanistan veterans

When Florida Legionnaire Bob Watson knew U.S. troops were going to leave Afghanistan in September, he wanted to do something to thank those veterans who’d served there during the War on Terror. But after watching events unfold as the U.S. presence dwindled – including the loss of 13 U.S. servicemembers in a suicide attack at the Kabul airport – Newberry American Legion Post 149’s “Welcome Home Afghanistan Veterans” event took on an even bigger meaning.

Post 149 put on a parade and expo for Afghanistan veterans, and any other U.S. veterans, on Sept. 25 in Newberry. The event was originally to take place at the post but was moved to the 7,000-square-foot Clark Plantation, a wedding venue, because of the outpouring of support from sponsors and vendors who wanted to participate.

“A lot of us Vietnam veterans, when we got home we weren’t treated that well, and resources weren’t available,” said Watson, who joined Post 149 around a year ago. “So a couple months ago I said ‘these guys and gals coming home, they need to have something.’ So we put together the resources for this program.”

Watson said the outpouring of support for the event shows “that people care about the veterans. Everyone’s saying ‘we want to help the vets.’ And being a vet myself, I’m very happy and pleased we’re getting the resources and people coming to help.”

Watson estimates around 300 veterans and their families attended the event which kicked off with a parade.

The 15-minute parade included American Legion Riders and other veteran motorcycle groups, Buchholz High School Junior AFROTC, military and first responder vehicles, vintage automobiles and two new M1152A1 Humvee cargo and troop carrier vehicles. An expo also took place into the evening that included information booths on veteran benefits, counseling, employment and housing. Other activities included a car show, a silent auction and raffle, a mobile blood donation center, live music, food vendors, and a bounce house, face painting and balloon artist for children.

Watson was able to speak to a few of the Afghanistan veterans who attended the event, saying they “were very pleased and happy.”

Post 149 Adjutant Vickie Van Buren said, “Back in the ‘60s and early ‘70s, when our (military) came back from Vietnam, they weren’t greeted with very much respect,” she said. “This, today, is to honor those individuals coming back from Afghanistan to make sure that they don’t experience the same thing that our Vietnam vets experienced when they came home.”

If your American Legion post is hosting a welcome home event for Afghanistan veterans, we want to hear about it. Please share on www.legiontown.org.

Let’s follow the words and actions of our national commander in that no veteran is left behind.