TRIBUTES

A Veteran Is . . .

A veteran is a man or woman that has served his or her country and the cause of freedom not for selfish reasons but for a much more noble and honorable reason.

That reason is Freedom. We now live in the most free nation on earth, and that freedom comes not from our political leaders in Washington but our men and women who in our past chose to fight for our nation by confronting our adversaries on the battlefield as well as holding vigil at military bases around the world, from those that would take our freedoms away. Those adversaries over the last 150 years would have controlled our way of life that we so enjoy today, had it not been for the patriotism and courage of our Veterans to keep us strong and free. Just as we honor our veterans coming home today from Iraq and Afghanistan, we honor all veterans from past wars and conflicts as well.

That is what this Day (Veterans Day) is set aside to do. To give our thanks to these hundreds of thousands of Veterans that helped preserve our country and its way of life. To coin a phrase…In a nut shell…A veteran is anyone that has served in our military in any capacity in any and all conflicts which our Great country has been faced with in our history.

I give my thanks as well as you give your thanks to all these brave men and women called Veterans.

Allan Ayo

We want to say thank you for all you did for our country and the respect and honor you have shown to all of your brothers and sisters who fought beside you and died beside you. You are truly a band of brothers and sisters. You may not have seen dancing in the streets and welcome parties when you came home. You may not have been able to wear your uniform when you returned. You may have had a hard time finding a job when you returned. You may have been called names when you walked down the streets. You may have realized the media and your own government did not tell you or the public, the real story. (Well, you know the story better than we can tell it!) Those days are gone but maybe not forgotten by those who lived it. I hope the future will be easier for you all.

Now - 40 Plus Years Later

WELCOME HOME!

March 30th is recognized as YOUR day! Next year, we will have dancing in the streets. You can now wear your caps, shirts, vest, etc, proudly telling the world YOU ARE A VIETNAM VETERAN! You do not have to worry about anyone calling you names because you now have the respect you so very much deserve! Everywhere you go now, people shake your hands and thank you. The media proudly tells your true story. BE PROUD, BRAVE MEN and WOMEN! You are a VIETNAM VETERAN! WELCOME HOME and THANK YOU for defending this country despite all the problems you faced within your country.

You All Are Heroes!

Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 991

Author: Debbie Wesson

TRIBUTES

A Veteran Is . . .

A Word From the Associates