Across the nation, American Legion members participate in special ceremonies on the annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Hayde Spencer set out to honor her father, Victor VanDerRoest, a Vietnam War Army veteran who was a Green Beret. He immigrated from the Netherlands to join the military and later became a U.S. citizen.
She coordinated the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony, sponsored by her post, American Legion Post 100 in Royse City, Texas. The post worked with the United States Vietnam War Commemorative for its second annual “Vietnam War Veterans Tribute” held March 29 at a local church.
“It meant a lot,” said Spencer, a retired Air Force veteran and second vice commander at Post 100. “My dad did two tours in Vietnam. This was something near and close to my heart. I did my best, through tears, to honor my dad.”
There were 26 veterans and two surviving spouses honored with special pins during the ceremony. American Legion Riders escorted the widows and after the women received their pins, taps was played.
“There was not a dry eye,” Spencer said. “It was very moving. As they walked by, people began to stand. It wasn’t scripted. It came from the heart.”
The post also honored 23 local servicemembers killed in action during Vietnam. A community member read their names, pausing after each one.
“That room was so silent,” Spencer said. “We didn’t have enough tissues we found out afterward. Words cannot express how respectful everybody was when we said their names.”
It was a successful mission for Spencer. And one that she plans to replicate next year.
“We are very proud of it,” she said. “I think the vets truly felt welcomed home. We all know the stories behind them of their return home.”
In Virginia, Navy veteran Cheryl Metz was inspired to create an event for local veterans and connected with American Legion Post 77 in Strasburg.
It was an easy decision for the post to get involved, said Commander Chris Payne, an Army veteran. “I thought it was a great idea. We welcomed that idea.”
About 15 post members, including the post color guard, participated in the event.
The ceremony honored 35 Vietnam veterans and 10 families representing deceased veterans. Department Commander Frank Hillard, the city mayor and police chief attended the event, held at the community library where Metz is the manager.
“The American Legion was the perfect partner,” said Metz. “Coming from a military family and being a veteran, I have a great respect for veterans. I thought this was a good time for our nation to come together and say, ‘Thank you,’”
Other American Legion posts honored Vietnam War veterans as part of the annual “welcome home” day. Among them:
• American Legion Post 196 in Brownwood, Texas, held a ceremony. Post 196 Commander Tom Gray, a retired Army colonel who served in Vietnam from 1971-72, read the names of 11 local servicemembers who died in the war. “This is a very important day, not only for me but for all of you who served your country whether it was in Vietnam or other wars or conflicts,” he said.
• More than 60 Vietnam veterans were honored by American Legion Post 367 in Whitehall Township, Pa., during a ceremony on Monday.
• In Fargo-Moorhead, S.D., American Legion Post 21 members participated in several events including an honor ceremony with a 21-gun salute at the Fargo National Veterans Cemetery.
• American Legion Post 314 in Leighton, Pa., held a special luncheon for 160 veterans and their significant others.
- Honor & Remembrance