VietNam Veterans Day

I know this is here on the home page late, but better posted here late than never, Welcome Home:

Gents,

We owe a great deal to the men and women of the Vietnam war. I speak at a lot of engagements throughout the year as I work with Marine Corps recruiting. One of the things I talk about with a ton of disabled veterans is just how much the generation of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars OWE to the men that returned home from Vietnam. They never received a homecoming. Many were spat on, yelled at, cursed at, and crucified. Many suffered PTSD in silence with very little to no help. Brothers of the Korean war, WWII and WWI were little help as most of them "volunteered" for the wars. They saw many veterans of Vietnam as "different breed".

Today's young men and women return home with the scars of war. Some are internal, some are external. Many of them would be lost the shuffle if it was not for the fact that there are Vietnam veterans around that know and understand what they are going through and know and understand what it takes to get better. They have paved the way for these brave soles to continue life once they returned home. Many of them fought for years with demons and unfortunately had to cope with those issues alone. Now, they have the abilities to help the new breed. To explain, to listen, to understand, and to show compassion regardless of what they had to go through.

I thank each and every one of them for what they did in the 60's and 70's however, the fight that they continue now is worth more on the homefront than it ever was in country. Thank you! Your sacrifices over the years at home have helped better prepare our returning veterans. Most importantly: making yourselves available in support groups, rehabilitation centers, VFW halls, disabled veteran sporting events... have turned men and women from thinking their lives have little or no meaning into leading fun, productive, healthy lives. I know you didn't get your homecoming.... but, let it be known that what you went through have paved the way for the overwhelming support that our young brave Americans receive today. I share my homecoming with all of you. You deserve it to.

Thank you for helping, being available to others, and continuing to support. Remember, many of us fight a much harder fight when we return home. Having people that have "been there, done that" and lived productive lives afterwards is what it takes to show a broken soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine, that there is a life worth living for!!!