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By Taylor Sterling
We continue to Welcome Home our VietNam Veterans, which was a “pinning ceremony” at the Newburgh Armory where our Orange County Executive, Steve Neuhaus went to each individual Viet Nam Vet in the audience and pinned them individually and welcomed them home.
One of those he pinned was his dad, Dr. Ralph Neuhaus (US Air Force), and Sheriff Paul Arteta’s dad Roy Arteta (U.S. Army) as well and thanked each for their service to this Country and to all of us. Neuahus told the story of a man who went up to a friend of his who was coming off a plane in full uniform. This gentleman went over to him and asked if he could hug and kiss him. His friend, although baffled, agreed. The man explained that he was one of those who shouted obscenities to those who initially returned from Nam and he knew he could not go back and make it right so he was trying to thank every soldier he could now.
The Keynote Speaker was Orange County Director of Veteran Affairs, Christian Farrell who served in Afghanistan. Additionally, Special Assistant and Advisor of the USA Vietnam War Commemoration, Mr. Benjamin Bryant spoke to the Nam Vets with great respect and admiration and thanked them and their families for their sacrifices. Also in attendance was Pat Larkin, Senator Bill Larkin’s wife and Bill Kaplan. As always, the great Nam Knights escorted the VietNam Vets into the Armory.
Tony Cosimano, who recently was honored in California by the International Helicopter Assoc received his pin. Tony, as you may have read in my previous columns, flew the Huey Helicopter in Nam for one year and was shot down twice. Even after Saigon fell, they still continued – and still continue – to lose more of our brothers and sisters.
Agent Orange-related illnesses, PTSD and other wounds of war take their toll more and more as the years pass.
We must honor their service and advocate on behalf of their needs, and defend their legacy. While historians continue to debate and second-guess the strategies and decisions of America’s political leaders during the Vietnam War, the noble service of the men and women who served there should not be forgotten. It is still not too late to heal old wounds. The next time you see a Vietnam veteran, say, “Thank you for your service.” And if you are one, welcome home!
Arteta – OC Exec, Steve Neuhaus, his dad, Viet Nam Vet US Air Force, Dr. Ralph Neuhaus – Dir of OC Veteran
Affairs, Christian Farrell – Pres. Of the Nam Knights, John Richichi
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