BORNE THE BATTLE

Bosque River Valley DAR celebrates National Vietnam War Veterans Day at Bosque County Commissioners Court; honors area Vietnam Veterans

MERIDIAN – Movies about the Vietnam War invariably play the soldiers’ soundtrack of the enlisted men stationed in that far-away tropical country fighting against the threat of communism in Asia. Many songs defined the raw war, like Jimi Hendrix “All Along the Watchtower,” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Fortunate Son,” the Animal’s “We gotta Get Outta This Place,” and Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.”

But on March 27 in the Bosque County Commissioners Courtroom in Meridian, the song that came to mind was James Brown’s “I Feel Good” from the movie “Good Morning Vietnam” featuring Robin Williams as the rogue Armed Forces Radio disc jockey Adrien Cronauer. While there were deep felt emotions and tears, the overall feeling among the Vietnam Veterans attending the Bosque River Valley chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution’s Vietnam Veterans’ Day Commemoration ceremony was one of brotherhood, appreciation, respect and gratitude. And the courtroom became a safe place for the veterans to share their feelings.

National Vietnam War Veterans Day honors the men and women who served and sacrificed during the longest conflict in United States history. It was on March 29, 1973, that United States combat and combat support units withdrew from South Vietnam. After U.S. Senators Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Joe Donnelly, D-Ind. introduced legislation to honor Vietnam Veterans with a day on the anniversary of the withdrawal of military units from South Vietnam, former President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Day Act on March 28, 2017, calling for U.S. flags to be flown on March 29.

It was an occasion to honor the service of those who served between the dates of November 15, 1955 and May 15, 1975 in the uniform of the U.S. Military, anywhere in the world where there was a presence of United States military. Involving five U.S. presidents, crossing nearly two decades and 500,000 U.S. military personnel, the war left an indelible mark on the American psyche. There were 58,000 killed, never to return.

Over the years, the DAR’s Vietnam Veterans’ Day Commemoration that honors Bosque County Vietnam veterans and recognizes the service and duty rendered by them fills the Commissioners’ Courtroom with veterans and well wishers. Special guests on March 27 were Diane and Greg Hight, founders of the Forever Young non-profit organization that helps veterans visit sites important to them, like the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, or the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii.

This June, they are accompanying nine World War II veterans aged 96-102 to the beaches of Normandy. Several of the Bosque County veterans have been on healing trips with Forever Young and expressed their deep gratitude to the Hights for their compassion.

Being with comrades on these cathartic, life-changing trips and sharing common experiences breaks down fears, anxieties and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders. The overall consensus of veterans that were part of one of the Forever Young trips, is that the experience has healed more invisible wounds than any Veteran’s Administration Hospital ever could.

“I have been to many, many of these type of ceremonies, but I’ve never been to anything like this,” Diane Hight said. “Texas does everything right. Y’all are just too sweet to me. I am just so happy to bring healing to vets.” She explained that Forever Young was born out of pain, out of a way to honor her father who suffered from alcoholism after World War II. She wanted to honor his memory in a positive way.

Ron Johnson took the time to remember their brothers who have passed away like “Blue” and the two Mikes. “The war and the return are now just bad memories and water under the bridge,” Johnson said. “I was proud to fight for our country and I’m sure that every one of us would do it again.”

It was Mike Burns who started bringing his Bosque brothers in arms together, and collecting their stories for the books he wrote. Upon his passing, his widow Valerie took up the torch to keep the monthly social gatherings at Johnnies Place in Clifton going. After the ceremony, many of the veterans, families and friends visited over coffee, tea and donuts, and headed to Johnnies for lunch.

Local quilter and avid veteran supporter Debbie Stubbs wrapped Greg Miller in one of her exquisite patriotic red, white and blue Quilts of Honor, welcoming him home and thanking him for protecting her through his service to his country. “Making quilts for my veterans keeps me going,” Stubbs said. “This makes me a better person and I’m sure it makes my momma proud.”

Forever Young participant veteran Abel Garcia had brought a friend and Vietnam 9^th infantry combat medic Jerry VanDyke from Willis to the ceremony, and because she just always happens to have extra Quilt of Honor in her car, Stubbs was able to wrap him and welcome him home too.

Fifty-one years later, National Vietnam War Veterans Day recognizes the military service of these men and women who didn’t make the decisions to go to war but did their national duty to serve their country when she needed them. It is the national committee’s mission to thank and honor Vietnam soldiers, those missing in action and their families, and to give them the welcome home they did not get 50 years ago – that is nearly seven million individuals.

The scars left by the war and the public’s derision upon their return, are deep and hidden. During these gatherings and this Vietnam Veterans’ Day ceremony, these local Vietnam veterans finally feel the respect and gratitude that was not so freely given upon their return from the war so many years ago. And they finally feel free to speak of their feelings and emotions because of the safe place they find themselves.

As usual, BRVDAR Chaplain and Honorary Regent Sue Fielden headed the ceremony with such grace and gratitude. In her welcome, Fielden had thanked the veterans present at the ceremony for their distinguished service and answering the call of duty for their country. And she reminded those present to bring forth any veterans they know to receive the DAR Certificates of Honor and a commemorative lapel pin which bears an Eagle symbolizing national pride and courage and the text "A grateful nation thanks and honors you.”

During the ceremony, Bosque County Judge Cindy Vanlandingham signed a proclamation making March 29, 2024 Vietnam Veterans Day in Bosque County. Judge Vanlandingham received a certificate and pin for her uncle Barney Wayne. And that left everyone with a good feeling, right along with James Brown.

EDITOR'S NOTE – Chisholm Country magazine's Simone Wichers-Voss received a Quilt of Valor made by Debbie Stubbs in appreciation and recognition for her generous support of the Quilts of Valor Foundation Mission, and for the articles she has written honoring Bosque County veterans. The suggestion to honor Wichers-Voss with a quilt came from Valerie Burns in the name of Bosque County Vietnam Veterans.

Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS