“This is our very first one that we’ve done,” said Steve Guider, who organized the gathering. “We invited all local Vietnam veterans and their families. Actually we invited anybody that wanted to come.”
Veterans Memorial Park was created by Guider. His goal on this day was to make sure those who were part of the Vietnam conflict got proper recognition.
It was mission accomplished.
Said Guider: “It was about a 45 minute long program honoring all the Vietnam vets for their service and sacrifice to this country.”
Colorful yet somber
It was a colorful yet somber occasion. There were flags, wreaths and vets who had a chance to reflect on a war that came to an end almost 51 years ago.
‘We had a little over a hundred people here, which for a first event was fantastic,” Guider said. “I think there was probably Vietnam combat vets or Vietnam para vets. So we had people stand up and acknowledge them.”
The Vietnam monument at the park was the centerpiece for the tribute. However, when US troops returned from the war in 1975 they were often viewed as pariahs.
“The fact that these soldiers were treated so poorly to me is just shocking” Guider said. “The wars that we’ve been in and the other conflicts, nobody else has had to face that kind of ridicule. The fact that they had to go through that and feel so unappreciated. They didn’t want to go there, they were drafted. It was a pretty bad time for them, but I think they really feel good about it now and feel appreciated.”
For Guider, his joy comes from seeing these Vietnam vets getting their long overdue respect.
“It makes me feel really good and that’s the best part of this,” Guider said.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day began in 2017.
