(The Reminder – Matt Conway) City leaders and members of the public honored the Vietnam War veteran community on March 29 at River Mills Senior Center. The day, known nationwide as Vietnam War Veteran’s Day, boasts additional significance as the country remembers the 50th anniversary of the United States exiting the controversial war.
This year marks the second ceremony hosted in honor of Vietnam War Veteran’s Day. The Chicopee’s Veteran Services Office’s initial plans for a gathering in 2020 were put on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Before the ceremony, patrons journeyed through a display of artifacts from local veterans and also paid tribute to the 15 Chicopee residents who died during the war. Those residents include Mark Rivest, Robert Dowds, Edward Stefanik, Robert Gagne, John Laskowski, Robert Litwin, Harold Gilbert, Thomas Wilk, Roger Dumont, Carl Glasscock, Michael Bouchard, Edward Downey Jr., Zygmunt Jablonski, Donald Kulacz and Robert Tolpa.
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State Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) said that there are “so many lessons to be learned” when looking back at the Vietnam War. He expressed remorse over the way Vietnam War veterans were harshly treated upon their return home.
“You heard things like baby killer, you were afraid to get things thrown at you if you wore your uniform,” said Velis.
Upon his return home from service in Afghanistan, Velis said he received warm greetings from a group of Vietnam War veterans. He paid tribute to the strength and resiliency of veterans from that war who continue to leave a positive impact.
“The group who could be forgiven for having a grudge, not only did not have a ground, they have single handedly made a decision to have a mission in life that they will never allow another group of veterans to experience what they experienced,” said Velis.
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