North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
Vietnam Veterans Tribute 2019
Pictured are Gainesville/Alachua County Area Vietnam and Vietnam Era Veterans. From top left: John Wayne Edwards, Walter Cason, Ed Smyth, Brenda Edvardsson, Steve Dodd, Jim Hutto, Ed Howard and Wayne Woodin; In the center of the graphic is Forest Hope.
The 2017 Public Broadcasting System documentary “The Vietnam War” by Ken Burns and Lynn Novak helped provide a new focus on that war and trigger a thoughtful reflection of a time that deeply divided our country. At that time many of our citizens could not and did not make the distinction between the war and the warrior. It was the first war to be televised and each evening, the horrors of war were brought directly in our living rooms.
For those in the United States who lived during the Vietnam era, from the early intervention of US military advisors throughout the 1950’s; through the introduction of full combat units during the mid-1960’s; through 1968 which saw more than 543,000 US military personal stationed in the country, through the fall of Saigon and its aftermath, the Vietnam War was a touchpoint for political and social protest.
Of the approximately 8,744,000 servicemen and women who served during the Vietnam era, approximately 3.4 million were stationed in the Southeast Asia theater, including flight crews based in Thailand, aviators and sailors in the adjacent South China sea. Most volunteered to serve, 25% were drafted. For those that served, the conflict represented something simple – a Call to Duty. Not unlike the ‘Greatest Generation’ of World War II Veterans before them, or those who fought in the Korean War immediately preceding Vietnam, military members did what military members do - they followed their orders, and fought the war they were tasked to fight in defense of the country and flag that they loved. They also experienced the bond of combat, of brotherhood and the reliance on their fellow service members regardless of race, creed, sex or color.
Unlike those who served before them, they were not celebrated when they came home. Many times it was just the opposite. Through no fault of their own, they were denigrated by many of the same citizens for whom they served. For all gave some and some gave all. They returned to a country that disagreed in large part with American foreign policy and the political nature of the conflict. Time, though, is a powerful thing. It has the ability to change perspective and, often, heal the wounds from that time in our history.
We now live in a time where Veterans and their military service is celebrated and lauded. Where the conflicts and causes of war are not tagged to those who nobly served in it. Vietnam Veterans have been leaders to assure no other Veteran receives similar treatment as they did when they returned from their service period. In a nation where less than 1% of the population has worn the uniform, military service is now recognized and appreciated as the act of service it is.
Time has ushered in a new perspective on this wonderful generation of service members. Some 6.6 million Veterans are still living today of the almost 9 million who served from 1955 through 1975, both in Vietnam and elsewhere. Nearly 3 million served “in country” with 6 million more serving in some capacity during and in support of military operations.
Tens of Thousands of Vietnam Veterans and Vietnam era Veterans live in North Central Florida and South Georgia. They have come to be embraced by our communities. They are our neighbors and friends, community and business leaders, homeowners, teachers, physicians, nurses, civil servants, volunteers and extraordinary every day citizens. They have formed the backbone of our local communities.
Nearly 7,000 Veterans receive their care each day throughout the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS). Vietnam Era Veterans make up the largest portion of those we serve. They and their family members walk our corridors daily – and many of our employees are Vietnam Era Veterans as well.
Collectively, as a community, we owe them much. They did not ask to go to war. They did not ask to be shamed for doing so. Their service is as valuable as any other group that has ever worn the cloth of our country – and we are grateful for their service and honor them for doing so.
On Saturday, March 30th, 2019, in recognition of Vietnam Veterans Day, Alachua County Veteran Services and NF/SGVHS invite you to join at the Alachua County Veterans Memorial Park off Tower Road at 11:00 am as we celebrate Vietnam Veterans and thank them for their service. A motorcycle parade will leave from the Malcom Randall VA hospital at 9:30 am that morning and will ride via Archer Road to the Park.
As members of a grateful nation we say Welcome Home and thank you for your service.
Thomas Wisnieski, MPA, FACHE Director North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
Below are links to two articles highlighting and celebrating Vietnam Veterans in advance of Vietnam Veterans Day 2019 and the North Florida Vietnam Veterans Tribute and Ride 2019; Words and Pictures Dan Henry, NF/SG Veterans Health System Public Affairs.
