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[Editorial] |
For Families, the Iraq War Is Not About Politics By Maryan Pelland ## Vietnam Vets Honored at Long Last It obviously made a difference. The veterans, now men in their 50’s, once soldiers of 17, 18, 19 years old, sat in the hot Florida sun, remembering another hot sun shining brutally down on Quang Tri, Da Nang, Tay Ninh, Bin Hoa. The cities and villages where they fought a war. About 200 veterans sat on metal chairs with family and friends Saturday afternoon, listening to words of welcome, encouragement and most of all thanks for a job well done. Rolling Thunder is a club of volunteers who say the Vietnam war is not over because there are still an unknown numbers of GIs missing. Bob Fernandez, Jim Stepanek, Rick Parker, Bill Ealey and Bob Avedisian opened the celebration at the Brooksville VFW Hall by riding down the center aisle on decked out motorcycles. After Springstead High drummers, local Marines and ROTC members installed the U.S. flag, and one for each military branch, in front of the crowd, Rolling Thunder posted the somber black flag of the POW/MIAs. They displayed it with a white cross and a funeral wreath. There wasn’t a sound in the crowd. More than one pair of eyes was damp with tears. Frank Anderson, U.S. Marine Corps, welcomed the veterans and their guests, saying, “Yours was the ten thousand day war born of the Vietnamese’s desire to be free of their French masters and fueled by communist ideology. You met the call of duty, shouldered your burdens and then returned with valor, courage, and commitment. We all respect and admire and thank you.” As the National Anthem followed the Pledge of Allegiance, men, women and children stood silently at attention. Veterans in wheel chairs, hands over their hearts, said the words and sang the song. Some struggled to stand and salute. Out of respect. The veterans listened carefully and they wore their feelings vividly on their shirts, hats and jackets. Slogans, “We will not forget.” “MIA/POW.” “ Vietnam Veteran.” Shirts with every manner of American flag, logo and sentiment. They sat and listened as dignitaries told them what they have needed to hear for three decades. What they say they already knew. Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, sponsor of the event, presented commemorative coins to those who fought in the war and registered with her office. Those with a DD214 and an honorable discharge. She spoke briefly. “I felt one of the best ways to honor you was to create this coin,” she said. “The front carries an eagle, depicting freedom you guaranteed all over the world. The back represents your service, facing danger and fear with courage that has made you heroes. We’re proud of you. Your nation and Congress thank you.” The veterans sat or stood on the blacktop of the parking lot and heard. On many of the faces, a slow, quiet smile appeared. They looked at each other and nodded. Thumbs up signs from some. Raised fists – victory sign from others. About 57,000 Americans made the ultimate sacrifice in that war. They were remembered and mentioned by all. One veteran walked the perimeter of the crowd, clutching four green photo albums and a sheaf of papers. He showed those who would stop, and many did, the photos of his unit. Army Platoon Sergeant Merle Hardee, Brooksville, showed his photos and his citations for combat service. “See what war does to young men,” he said. “Today is good. It’s good to recognize what happened. How do I feel? I’ve been numb for 36 years.” Henry Wright of Brooksville, an Army medic in Long Bien 1967 and 1968, said, “We think about it a lot and we talk about it among ourselves. It’s still there. But today means a lot.” He smiled widely, “It’s right.” The audience is composed of veterans, almost all men, of varying ages. Some are young, having served in Desert Storm or Operation Iraqi Freedom. Some from the Korean War, still waiting for their own recognition. There are women who are military mothers, wives, sisters. Children whose lives were affected by sacrifices made by the soldiers being honored. “We were married for just seven months when he went,” said Carol Denham of Spring Hill, nodding at her husband Bob who stood near her, turning his commemorative coin over and over in his hand. “They said he wouldn’t go there, so we married. Then he was going somewhere to train some guys and then he was in Vietnam just like that. When he came home a year later, there was no one to talk to about what happened. There was no help. It wasn’t good.” She’s proud, and always has been, saying, “I am so happy to see this today. I’m bothered by what’s happening in Iraq, though. I would have thought we’d have learned.” Bob agreed on all counts, “It’s real good to get this award. It sort of takes away the bad feeling, like somebody cares. I’m not too hot on this Iraq thing. It seems like a rerun.” As the coins were handed out and shown around, the crowd’s mood lifted visibly. There was joking, soft laughing from various groups and it began to seem like a picnic. A veteran walked across the lawn, having just received his award. His wife bubbled, “Jack let me see!” He grinned, held the coin out of reach and teased, “Hey I earned this. You just get a little peek.” Congresswoman Brown-Waite continued her remarks, echoing sentiment being expressed by others, too, “I want you to keep our current generation of soldiers in your hearts. It would be a shame if they came home to a reception like you received. Let them know you care and appreciate them. “Hopefully, we have learned from our experience in Vietnam,” the Congresswoman continued, “and not repeat past mistakes.” Brown-Waite presented coins to each of nearly 200 veterans as they filed by the stage. She listened as some told quick stories, or made comments, or asked for a hug. And she gave them what they needed. Jim Scott of Brooksville, medic for the Air Force and Army, served from 1969 to 1972. He served, he says, everywhere. He went all over the country picking up victims, wounded, killed-in-action. “I heard the whole dang war,” he said. “Everytime I picked up a casualty, they had a story to tell me if they could. So I heard it all. It was tough. Everyone worked hard, everyone lost something but we didn’t lose the war. The government did.” Scott said he admires Congresswoman Brown-Waite for her diligent work on behalf of all veterans in Hernando County, and this county has more veterans than almost any other. Scott said, “She doesn’t talk about it a lot, but she is always out there making sure our interests are considered. A real crusader.” Vietnam Veteran Donald Sloan was just about the last man through the line to receive coins. He wheeled himself across the lawn in a snappy chair and beamed as Brown Waite bent to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for serving,” she told him. Chaplain William Webb’s convocation prayer summed up the feeling of the afternoon, “We ask that You grant us serenity and peace,” he said. “We remember Vietnam. We remember heat, humidity and rain. We are proud to be Americans. We also remember there are men and women in Iraq. Protect them, and ensure their safe return. God bless the U.S.A.” Having served there just like the men receiving coins, Chaplain William’s words expressed exactly what many others feel after struggling for so long to get respect and appreciation. It should never happen to another soldier. ## Boy Trades Television for Hurricane Relief Work When you think about American heroes it isn't likely that your first thought is a nine year-old from Spring Hill. But Joseph McClellan, Jr, a fourth grader at Deltona Grade School is a real hero who collected more than 200 boxes of food, clothing and toys for fmailies who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Joseph watched the reports of Hurricane Katrina on TV, like the rest of us, and he simply had to do something. So he got up and did something big. "I didn't know I could do this much," he said. "I just wanted to send some stuff to people in trouble." And he did, several truck loads over the past few weeks. On Friday, the final load will be put in a van and a truck owned by the Christian Fellowship of Spring Hill and taken to the Gulf Coast by Rev.James E. Roberts and some volunteers. If Joseph could drive, there's no doubt he'd man the truck himself. As he can't, he is happy running around Brooksville and Spring Hill organizing a campaign worthy of any corporate planning mogul. His mom said, "Neither of the kids has seen TV or video games for three weeks. They just want to go out and make this happen." Joseph pulled together parents, friends, teachers, classmates and even his parents co-workers to get it done. He gathered boxes and made signs -- "Help Katrina Victims." He set the boxes out in his school, at Duncan Donuts where his mom, Dianne, works and at local shopping centers. He even conscripted his sister, Megan, a kindergartner to help. "She packs boxes and stuff," he explained. Joseph isn't interested in a flurry of attention for himself, in fact, it's kind of hard to get him to stand still or talk about his project. He's proud of himself, he says, but a little shy about the Hometown Hero award his principal Beverly Chapin is encouraging him to apply for. He just wants to help people. This month Joseph and Megan spent their allowance money, bu not on te usual movies admissions or toys. They went shopping on behalf of the survivors. They made a thoughtful, logical list and came home with crayons, bandages, nail clippers, disinfectant and anticeptics to be shipped to families who are hurting. His dad, Joe, says the McClellans got fired up when Dianne's co-worker Gina Callaci suggested hanging banners at a Spring Stead High football game, at area parks, and at local businesses. Donations poured in and the project grew. "It's wonderful to see what people will do when you encourage them a little. We got donations from restaurants and businesses. We even ended up with temporary storage space for the boxes," Dianne said. Dianne and Joe agree, as long as there are items donated, they'll help their children pick up the stuff and pack the boxes. They feel it has brought their family closer together and they learned a lot. They have a plan now for hurricane emergencies and neither parents nor children would hesitate to evacuate if that's what was needed. As for Joseph, this is hard work. He gave up a lot of time, energy and money, would he do it again? "Of course," he said. "If somebody needed it."
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