Half a Century Later: Local Vietnam Veterans Finally Receive the Honors They Deserve

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Fifty years since the end of the Vietnam War, the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs ensures an annual event takes place to honor nearby Vietnam veterans.

Within the walls of the Gold Star Families Memorial Auditorium at the Veterans Home in Rocky Hill, the venue was brimming with people aiming to honor local Vietnam veterans – many of whom had felt underappreciated upon their return from the conflict half a century earlier.

Ron Welch, a former Brigadier General who currently serves as the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, stated, "This is an enormous day; we're honoring our Vietnam War veterans, acknowledging their contributions, and recognizing the sacrifices made by them and their families. More than 58,000 individuals gave everything, including 614 servicemen and women from Connecticut." He further emphasized, "They are truly our heroes."

Jerry Augustine, a retired Army combat veteran from Middletown who served in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967, expressed that it remains particularly meaningful for him and his peers from the Vietnam era to receive long-overdue acknowledgment after all these years.

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This is fantastic," said Augustine, "it has been 50 years since the conclusion of the Vietnam War and our cause. Upon returning, we didn’t receive any acknowledgment, and over all these years, we’ve tucked those memories aside. Now, after such a long time, we’re finally beginning to be acknowledged.

The nearly 90-minute-long ceremony featured addresses from political figures and servicemen and women representing each branch of the military.

"A day like this holds great significance for me; it's incredibly fulfilling, and I feel grateful," stated Kendrick Drakes from Hartford, an army combat medic who served in Vietnam between 1967 and 1968.

Each year, the "Welcome Home" ceremony for Vietnam veterans takes place in late March at the facility in Rocky Hill. The Department of Defense organizes comparable observances nationwide.

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Jimmy Altman serves as a reporter for FOX61 News. You can contact him there. jaltman@fox61.com . Follow him on Facebook , X and Instagram .

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