We were pleased to see that the Atmore City Council is once again declaring the last Saturday in March as “Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day.”

On Saturday, March 28, Heritage Park will again host a solemn ceremony to honor those veterans, who often were jeered or ridiculed after they originally returned home. We appreciate the efforts of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7016 to bring this event back for a second year, and we urge the city to make it a permanent part of the calendar.

The following is an excerpt from the city’s proclamation declaring Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day:

“Whereas, 11 years of combat left their imprint on a generation. Thousands returned home bearing shrapnel and scars; still more were burdened by the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress, of Agent Orange, of memories that would never fade. More than 58,000 laid down their lives in sacrifice to our Nation. Now and forever, their names are etched into two faces of black granite, a lasting memorial to those who bore conflict’s greatest cost; and

“…Today, we reaffirm one of our most fundamental obligations: to show all who have worn the uniform of the United States the respect and dignity they deserve, and to honor their sacrifice by serving them as well as they served us. Half a century after those helicopters swept off the ground and into the annals of history, we pay tribute to the fallen, the missing, the wounded, the millions who served, and the millions more who awaited their return. Our Nation stands stronger for their service, and on Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day, we honor their proud legacy with our deepest gratitude…”