Welcome home

In an earlier blog, I described a mission with the Patriot Guard Riders.  Yesterday was another mission, this time for an Army Sergeant killed in combat in Afghanistan.  He leaves behind a young wife and toddler son.

Of the dozens of riders in yesterday's mission, there was a very high percentage of Viet Nam vets.  Each was there to do something that was missed for their generation.  Each was there to welcome home a warrior.

So very much has changed, for the better, over the past four plus decades.  The average citizen now respects the men, and women, in uniform.  That was not the case for these vets.

Then, there was much animosity towards the war.  Today, there are similar views.  Then, the men and women in uniform, many of whom were drafted, became the targets of the anger and animosity towards the war.  Lost on our citizens was that these warriors weren't making the decisions about the management of the war.  This resulted in military orders that uniforms not be worn by those serving in our military headquarters in Washington, DC for a period.  Though not a Viet Nam veteran, as a Marine, I did serve overseas for the first time in 1974-75, leaving behind my wife, who was pregnant with our first.  My long awaited return was delayed due to the mission of the final evacuation from Viet Nam.  When the return flight finally landed in CONUS (continental US), I was excited about seeing my 8 month old son for the first time.  As I was walking through the airport in San Francisco to my connecting flight, I was accosted by the proverbial "hippies."  In voices that grew louder and louder, they were peppering me with the phrases of the day, such as "How many women and children did you kill today?"  And this was just days after we finally evacuated the Ambassador and thousands of Vietnamese from Saigon.  As angry as that episode made me, I can't really imagine what it must have been like for those who lost buddies while fighting in Viet Nam.

Today, I'm proud that the Viet Nam generation of veterans has led the way in making sure our men and women in uniform know they are respected, their sacrifices recognized, and their service honored.  As a nation, our conscience finally awakened to recognize the importance of the service of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.  Citizens have come out in droves at major airports to welcome home those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines can be seen traveling in uniform, to be stopped and thanked for their service.

It's my view that those Viet Nam vets who participated in yesterday's mission, and on other missions across the nation, are standing to ensure those who wear the cloth of our nation are welcomed home.  To these vets who give of their time, Welcome Home, brothers.

UPDATE

On 7 November, we gathered again to honor this fallen soldier as he was laid to rest. We old, gray bearded vets formed two flag lines at the cemetery for the private ceremony.  The young (all too young) widow and mother of the hero walked the lines and shook the hand of each and every one of us.  As Taps was played, we each saluted, offering this final welcome home to one of our fallen.