Vietnam Veterans honored in Wasilla for fifth straight year

WASILLA — Our American calendar is flooded with days meant to commemorate, memorialize and celebrate the sacrifice of armed service people.

But for one group of veterans that sense of pride doesn’t come so easily. For them, a special day of recognition was begun and every March 29 since 2014, the city of Wasilla has honored local Vietnam Vets.

Thursday’s event was at the Wasilla High School auditorium, followed by refreshments at the Veterans Center nearby.

Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle began the ceremony with opening remarks highlighting what distinguishes Vietnam Veteran ceremonies from others.

“Because the Vietnam War was so unpopular at home, what should have happened 40 years ago never happened,” Cottle said. “We welcome you home and thank you for your service.”

Chaplain Charles Brawley noted that, “Not everyone who was lost in Vietnam died there, and not everyone who came home left Vietnam.”

With that, members of the AMVETS Post 9 conducted the POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony with the traditional lone table-for-one at the corner of the stage, adorned with symbolism.

The burning candle is a symbol of hope, the white table cloth of purity, the red rose for the families of the POW, the lapel on the vase a demand for proper accounting of the missing, a slice of bread to remind of their bitter fate, and the empty chair at the table-for-one, a reminder that they are not here and to ‘remember them until the day they come home.’

Maj. Gen. Laurie Hummel was scheduled to be the keynote speaker but she could not make it, leaving Verdie Bowen Sr., Director of Alaska Veterans’ Affairs, who was meant to introduce Hummel to handle the honors.

Bowen spoke to the unfortunate silence held by many Vietnam Veterans, including two members of his own family, whose tours there he wasn’t even aware of until many, many years later.

Bowen encourage the dozens of veterans on hand at Thursday’s ceremony to not be like his uncles; to share their stories for their own benefit as well as ours.

“Sometimes we think every man is an island, but today is a good day to break the island and tell people what’s going on,” Bowen said. “Open up, tell your story. If you don’t have anyone to tell it to, come to my office and tell it to me. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”

After that, Bowen and others representing the V.A. and the military handed out commemorative coins to the veterans and their spouses on hand.

With that, all rose for a somber playing of ‘Taps’.