Honoring the veterans
This article from HISTORY.com outlines how and why Vietnam War veterans were treated so poorly when they first returned from overseas. First, it speaks to the social, political, and economic factors that influenced the perception of veterans. It also demonstrates how those negative perceptions manifested for veterans in American society--they were not given a welcome home parade, they were denied government benefits, and were generally disrespected by the American public. The article also talks about how these public perceptions have changed since the Gulf War and 9/11.
This article was very sad for me to read because it validated everything my own grandfather talked about in our podcast. He shared many of the same experiences and sentiments as the veterans quoted here. He also had unfortunate run-ins with rude people (in his case, it was a taxi driver who kicked him out of a cab on his way home from the airport) and terrible experiences at VA hospitals. My grandfather voiced the same desire as the last veteran quoted in this article: to recieve a simple thank you for the sacrifices he made while fighting for his country.
An award given to a military service person by the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in NYC.
A ceremony honors Vietnam war veterans.
These two items show how the way veterans are honored has changed since the homecoming of Vietnam soldiers.
The first item is an award that is presented annually to a serviceperson of merit. Designed by Vietnam war veteran John Phelp, each year it is given to a person who has served in the military by the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza. The award is meant to honor the service of John Phelps, and his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chance Russell Phelps, who was killed in Baghdad at the age of 19 on April 9th, 2004. Not only does this award show how much more respect is given to military servicepeople today, it also shows the spirit of Vietnam veterans. This award was created by a Vietnam veterans organization and is also designed by a Vietnam veteran--these soldiers know how it feels to be mistreated after such a huge sacrifice and want to make sure that it doesn't happen to any military serviceman again.
The second item is an article from ABC7 that reports on a ceremony held in downtown Manhattan this year, on March 29 2019, to honor Vietnam Veterans and those lost post 9/11. The event is produced annually by the United War Veterans Council, where names of veterans are read aloud by volunteers and family members. An attendee describes their experience at the ceremony: "'Hearing the name read aloud ... It's almost cathartic sometimes. It brings emotions, tears. It's the remembrance: Nobody wants to be forgotten. That's the worst thing that could ever happen,' said Molly Levi, an event organizer." Vietnam veterans are now being honored in public spaces like this, and their friends and families are also given the opportunity to greive with people who have experienced similar losses. More than that, it shows Vietnam veterans that, more than 50 years after their service, they are worthy of public recognition.