Vietnam Veterans are making sure that one generation of veterans will never again abandon another
by Alline Kent
When soldiers returned home from the war in Vietnam, for many there were no parades, no cheering for their service to this country.
A generation later, when another group of young men and women set off to fight another war, the group that welcomed them home the warmest was the same group that years earlier had received the cold shoulder.
The Vietnam Veterans of America is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. It was started in 1978.
While their mission is to promote issues that affect Vietnam-era veterans, their commitment to the future is measured by their founding principle:
“Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another.” (….continued…)
Members of the organization are service men and women who served in country from Feb. 28, 1962 through May 7, 1975 or in any other location in support of the Vietnam War from Aug. 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975.
But to the members of local Chapter 902 there is no difference where the service was earned. In the local group, there are men and women, those who carried guns and those who packaged supplies. One member was held as a POW for three years.
All are committed to making sure that what happened to them never, ever happens in this country again.
Brian Schmidt is a Vietnam vet and president of local Chapter 902 of the Vietnam Veterans of America. He has been involved with the organization for five years, as president since May, an organization he chose to affiliate with because of its reputation of focusing on – and fixing – the problems of veterans.
“We were treated like non-citizens when we came home,” Schmidt said. “So Vietnam veterans are leading the support of our current forces. We don’t want our current conflict veterans to get the response that we got when we returned.”
To that end, members meet planes when Iraqi war veterans return home, cheering and waving flags. The returning troops are invited to the VVA chapter meetings to speak and to be thanked for their service.
Schmidt also sees a change in the attitude of the public toward Vietnam vets – and plenty of regret.
“I think people are sorry for how we were treated,” he says. “We did what we were asked. Our country asked us to serve and we did.”
They continue to serve, these Vietnam vets in Houston County.
They offer a scholarship for the children and grandchildren of veterans – any veterans, not just those who were in Nam, at all four high schools in the county.
A budgeted amount is set aside and divided among the four schools. However, last year only Houston County High studentsapplied for the scholarship. Instead of dividing the money, the entire amount was award to Daniel Noler, whose father was serving in Iraq.
Schools have the scholarship packages, and the deadline to apply is March 1.
The veterans also conduct a regular roadside cleanup, volunteering to be responsible for the area of Russell Parkway between Corder Road and Houston Lake Road.
The group has a color guard that performs at patriotic events and lends support to activities such as the Memorial Day observance at Andersonville.
This year, the chapter will have a booth at the Georgia National Fair to present information about their organization.
The national organization keeps the local chapters informed of legislation that might affect veterans, so that local members may contact their congressmen to voice their opinion.
The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 902, meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at Ryan’s. A “Meet and Munch” is at 5:30 p.m., with the business meeting starting at 6:30. For more information, visit their Web site at vva902.org.
There is also an auxiliary group of people who may not have military service during Vietnam but are supporters of those who did.
It would have been easy for Vietnam vets to turn their back on the people who turned their backs on them.
But they didn’t. They served then. They serve still.
All in the name of freedom.
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