Vietnam veterans to be honored Sunday, Sept. 11

At a Rose Garden ceremony in 2009, current U.S. President Barack Obama characterized the treatment of Vietnam veterans in the years following the war as a “national disgrace” and “one of the saddest episodes in American history.”

Photo by Navin Rajagopalan

Indeed, by the late 1960s the war had grown so unpopular that soldiers were often advised not to wear their uniforms upon returning home, and the negative stereotypes — that of the bitter, psychologically wounded, often homeless and drug-addicted ex-soldier — persisted for years after the fall of Saigon in 1975.

Fortunately, it is still not too late to make amends, and on Sunday, September 11, that process will continue in Canton as the town welcomes hundreds of Vietnam Era servicemen and women to Memorial Field to publicly thank them for their service to the nation.

Organized by Veterans Agent Tony Andreotti, the ceremony is meant for anyone from Canton who served at least one day during the war years (1964-1975) and at least 90 days total, including those who entered service from the town as well as those who have since moved here.

And unlike the ceremonies he organized for the veterans of World War II and Korea — wars that lasted for four and three years, respectively — Andreotti is expecting an entirely different atmosphere at this event, with many attendees who are nearly a generation apart as well as several older and younger brother combinations.

“The story that amazed me was that it was an 11-year war,” he said. “If you think about it, the class of 1964 sent guys in and so did the class of 1975, so the guy who went in ’64, kids that were only in grammar school at the time ended up going in too.”

Andreotti and his veterans committee spent weeks tracking down addresses and then mailed out hundreds of invitations to places all over the country. And while they didn’t get the response they had initially hoped for, it turns out that many veterans and their families were “thrilled” to have been invited.

For a number of attendees, in fact, Sunday’s ceremony will mark the first time they have been formally recognized since they were discharged from the service.

“Part of it is that people got tired of the war, and they took it out on the soldiers,” Andreotti said. “So when they came home, they didn’t want to expose themselves.”

Slowly, however, attitudes toward Vietnam veterans began to change, and Andreotti said it really became apparent to him back in 2005, when thousands turned out for the Traveling Memorial Wall, which made a three-day stop in Canton and attracted visitors from all throughout the region.

“Now, with this ceremony, I really want to honor them,” said Andreotti, who has ordered hats for each veteran as well as another “special gift” that they will each receive during the program.

Frank LaBollita, a Canton resident, will emcee the event, and a high-ranking officer has been invited to speak.

The ceremony will then culminate with a roll call of every veteran in attendance — the highlight of the program and the “reason that we are there,” according to Andreotti.

In addition, a special medal will be presented to the families of the four Canton men who were killed in action during the war: Rudolph Araujo, Antonio Falco, Peter Hansen and Bruce Matta.

As for the event coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, Andreotti said he had initially tried to avoid September 11 for that reason, mostly out of respect for the police and fire departments.

But after getting support from both chiefs and also remembering that many Vietnam veterans are now retired police officers and firefighters, he determined that it was actually an ideal day to commemorate these men and women.

“When the traveling wall came, the closing ceremony was also on September 11, and it was a packed house that day,” he recalled. “So, in a way, it sort of all goes together.”

Signups for the Vietnam recognition ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. at Memorial Field, and the program itself will begin promptly at 4. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved to the CHS auditorium. Following the ceremony, all veterans are invited to the American Legion Hall for hamburgers and hot dogs.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Sep 7 2011. Filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.