America’s population during the late 1960s and early 1970s was just as divided as it is today. The cleaver pushing apart the two sides back then was the Vietnam War. There was no gray area, people were either for or against the war to stop communism from spreading through an Asian county smaller than California.

The height of the disagreement was 1969. The iconic moment for those who wanted to end the war was the Woodstock Music Festival, which had for its symbol a peace dove perched on a guitar. Who remembers the words to County Joe McDonald’s R-rated song “Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag”? Few at the time knew that Joe McDonald was in his own words “a proud Navy veteran”, which he was uncomfortable mentioning because of the anti-military tone at the music festival.

There is no definitive starting point for the US war in Vietnam War. Some say it is as early as 1955 when military advisors trickled in to support the South Vietnamese Army. However, the medal awarded to personnel who were ‘in-country’, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal has the beginning year of 1960 emblazoned on the green and white ribbon bar. Others say the start date was in 1965 when full-scale combat units of US Marines made their unopposed amphibious landing at Da Nang.

Once US forces were committed to the mission in Vietnam, whole units moved their flags to Southeast Asia, meaning their actual headquarters left the US and they set up shop on foreign soil closer to the fighting. Because of this, full military units seldom moved en masse to and from the war zone. Instead, individual service members departed the US and traveled to their assigned outfits as replacements as needed. And replacements were needed often. They came home the same way thirteen months later; as individuals.

Individual soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines returning home found themselves confronted by war protesters as soon as they arrived in the “Land of the Big PX.” A lone serviceman in uniform was an easy target for the spewing wrath of hatred toward the Vietnam War. Nearly all these guys and gals coming home had a father in WWII. That earlier generation of returning veterans was greeted as heroes for saving the world. The returning Vietnam vets were vilified as murderers and treated as such by fellow Americans. After serving a tour overseas, who would have thought the hardest thing for a combat veteran to endure would be arriving back home?

Since the Vietnam era a great deal has changed with our military, with most of the changes for the better. Some of the good changes are; the end of the draft, units now deploy and return together, servicemen are not required to wear their uniforms off-base (I’m uncertain on that one) and the biggest change for the better is the public perception. No matter how we feel about the politics of going to war, we always support our troops. The returning military personnel from Desert Storm were the first to receive that adulation, and we received that benefit at the expense of the Vietnam veterans.

The United States by an act of Congress and through the Department of Defense is trying to officially right the wrong perpetrated against the Vietnam War Period veterans. Public law 110-181, section 598 is the source document which officially states “A grateful nation thanks and honors” our Vietnam Period Veterans. That’s an important distinction for a couple of reasons; 1. The US government seldom offers official gratitude or apologies and 2. The wording includes ALL veterans of the period from 1955 – 1975, whether or not the veteran had boots on the ground in Vietnam.

The manner in which the government is offering their “thanks and honors” is to recognize veterans at ceremonies across the country presenting a lapel pin to those who served during the Vietnam period. One of these ceremonies was last week on the SUNY Broome campus, which I attended. I was not there as a recipient, but as a humble presenter of our nation’s gratitude.

The Broome County event was sponsored by the US Department of Defense and organized by Congressman Brindisi’s office. Approximately 50 Vietnam period veterans attended, along with family members and active military personnel. There were lots of laughs and tears, handshakes and hugs as the ghosts of the Vietnam War were exorcised for these men and women.

If you are a US armed forces veteran who served anytime between November 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, you are eligible for these honors and recognition. The next event will be August 29th in Madison County at the War Veterans Memorial in Wampsville. If the upcoming event in Madison County is similar to one last week in Broome County, you’ll be impressed. Now that you’re invited, you have to RSVP. Do this by calling Congressman Brindisi’s Utica office; (315) 732-0713.

If you were one of the war protesters from 50 years ago, no one expects you to apologize for your commitment to peace or your right to protest. However, this might be a good time for that war protester to offer long overdue “thanks and welcome home” to a Vietnam veteran for their service. There are about 9 million Vietnam period veterans remaining in the US right now, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one.