"Sharing can be a way of healing. Grief and loss can isolate,
anger even alienate. Shared with others, emotions unite
as we see we aren't alone. We realize others weep with us."
~Susan Wittig Albert

Through our writing, we walk out of the darkness into the light
together, one small step at a time, recording history, educating
America, and we are healing.
~CJ/Todd Dierdorff



Friday, April 11, 2014

Welcome Home - Then and Now

A Fitting Welcome

by Craig Latham

34th PID
101st Airborne Div. (Ambl)
Phu Bai, S. Vietnam
1970-1971

I'm going to say something nice and then I'm probably going to rant ...

I think what our citizens are doing for our returning soldiers is the greatest thing in the world. We show that they are appreciated for the sacrifices they have made and the paths they have taken in life. 

Now, that being said: Where was this "Welcome Home" for the returning Vietnam War Veteran or the Korean War Veteran (YES these were Wars, too)? 

We were treated badly upon arriving home from something we did that we thought was right. Now everyone is getting on the band-wagon and thinking they can right a wrong done to us by saying, "Welcome Home". 

Welcome to Hell?
What about all the Vietnam Vets who didn't make it this far to hear a "Welcome Home"? 

The homeless Vets that people still don't care about? 

The broken homes from soldiers suffering from PTSD? 

The Agent Orange that the government said wouldn't and wasn't hurting us? 

The suicides? 

The ones who are still missing? 

The ones who breathed their last breath for this Country? 

What about them? 

Our government still treats the Veterans badly. Cutting benefits. All the while, the "Fat-cats" in Washington would have you believe they are trying to help this country, while they line their pockets with our hard earned cash. 
Craig Latham

Yes, give a "Welcome Home" to our returning Vets, but please don't think that just because you say, "Welcome Home" to a Vietnam Veteran, or a Korean Veteran, that everything is forgotten. IT ISN'T. 

My 2 cents', for what it's worth.


“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale


1 comment:

  1. The only thing America seemed to learn from the Vietnam War was NOT to blame our soldiers for a bad war. When our veterans return home, they should receive all the support and medical are and financial help they need, forever.

    ReplyDelete

Feel free to comment.