Honoring the heroes
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 29, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Rosewood student Brian Casey places a tag for one of 39 Vietnam War POW/MIAs from North Carolina during the Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony Saturday at the Veterans Memorial.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Col. Joseph Marm, Gold Star Widow Barbara Newman and Col. Hien Vo walk to lay the wreath during the Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Vic Miller speaks to those gathered for the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Celebration Saturday.
Candy Smith used a tissue to dab away the tears.
"I always get choked up," she said following Saturday morning's Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Celebration.
Her husband, Jay, served in Vietnam in 1966.
"These kind of programs are very moving to me because I greatly admire our military people," she said. "They give up a great deal to provide freedom for us and I appreciate it.
"We participate in a lot of these type of ceremonies and I always find them very moving. They cannot get enough recognition as far as I am concerned."
Mrs. Smith was among those who packed the upstairs of the Wayne County Museum for the celebration before moving down the street to the Wayne County Veterans Memorial for the ceremonial laying of a wreath and a 21-gun salute.
The names of POW/MIA North Carolina Vietnam veterans were read as well.
The celebration is an attempt to make amends to the veterans who did not receive the welcome home they deserved, organizers said. In 2012, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
During the ceremony, veterans of each branch of the service were recognized with a special tribute to Vietnam veterans.
Vic Miller, chairman of the Wayne County Veterans Advisory Board and 22-year veteran of the Marine Corps, was the keynote speaker. Miller's tours of duty include Iraq.
"It is my distinct honor and pleasure to speak to you today to welcome home the Vietnam veterans. You know, growing up we have all heard stories glorying combat and war from our elders. We grew up idolizing (veterans) -- wanting to experience what they have experienced."
Miller said he recalled an incident that happened to him in 1993 when he was returning home from Somalia.
Miller said he was siting next to an older lady on a flight from San Diego, Calif., to Portland, Ore.
"I was wearing my Class C Charlie uniform because I was proud of my service," he said. "Somalia was not a combat mission. It was a humanitarian mission. But some of the things that we did, we looked at it as a combat mission.
"She looked at me and kind of gave me the once up and down. She asked me if I had served in Somalia. I looked at her with a sense of pride and said, 'Yes. I did.' She kind of again gave me the look and said, 'We didn't belong in Somalia.'"
The woman continued to talk and to volunteer her feelings about how she felt about the United States' action in that small African country. She was displeased with the government because of what the military was doing, he said.
Miller said he tried to think of a response and started looking around to see if there was another seat he could move to.
"I came back and looked at her and said, "Ma'am, were you in Somalia?'" Miller said.
The woman replied no and had a perturbed look on her face, he said.
"I said, 'Well guess what? We were in Somalia. Me and a bunch on my buddies,'" he said.
A few minutes later a flight attendant came by and offered him a seat in first class. Miller said he thought she had overheard the conversation and had noticed the shocked look on his face.
"It didn't really dawn on me until a few months later, I thought about it and thought about it," he said. "It dawned on me for the first time, maybe for that short minute of time on that flight, that small conversation that I had with that lady -- I maybe having an inkling of the feeling of what our Vietnam veterans felt like, but on a much smaller scale.
"You know, realizing whether or not we agree or disagree when it comes to someone's opinion -- as a service member it is what we fight for. We fight for freedoms so that people can have their opinions."
Miller said he had to "talk himself down," just as other veterans had to do after such an experience.
Today's military is fighting terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries to ensure "they do not bring the fight to us again."
Miller recalled another flight and stepping off a plane in Maine after returning from Iraq. This time it was to a "large applause" from other veterans and patriots.
It was an amazing experience that made it difficult for him to speak and say thank you, Miller said.
"If anything, these selfless acts and these long hours they endure have taught me a very valuable lesson," Miller said. "Never again ever shall we forget those who served this country.
"Never again will we forget those who at one point in their lives have written a check to the United States government payable with their lives."
Miller said it had been a pleasure to meet such fine people during his life -- some of whom he had bled or cried with.
Miller said that in some cases he is closer to his military brethren than he is to his own family.
His family might cringe to hear that, but they know the score, he said.
"You know every since that flight that day in 1993 I have made myself a promise to my fellow countrymen that I will never pass up an opportunity to thank a veteran for their service" he said. "I always make sure that they feel appreciated.
"I pray every day our children and their children will carry on our legacy as we carry on the legacy of those who have gone on before us. I ask each and every one of you in this room to teach your children that, as I am sure you are, as I teach my children those values."