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