PORT ANGELES — A long-awaited welcome home came to more than 75 Vietnam War veterans Tuesday, the 35th anniversary of the end of the decade-long conflict.
The ceremony to honor and thank Vietnam veterans at the Clallam County Veterans Center in Port Angeles was in recognition of the state’s first “Welcome Home Veterans Day.”
The state proclamation naming March 31 as day of remembrance was initiated by Norman Goodin of Port Angeles, who returned from the Vietnam War in 1968.
“This is one of the better things in my life,” Goodin, 63, told the crowd of about 100 military veterans, most of whom served in Vietnam.
The purpose of the event, hosted by the Clallam County Veterans Association, was to give the veterans a welcome home that many didn’t receive.
Anger at the controversial war turned all too often into anger at those who fought it, Charles Gagnon of Port Angeles told the Peninsula Daily News.
“It was just amazing, the lack of respect Vietnam veterans received,” said Gagnon, who served in the Navy during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.
“They were treated less than a second-class citizen.”
Martin Arnold, a Navy commander during Vietnam, recalled that even some veterans associations rejected those who served in that conflict since it was considered a defeat for the United States.
Don Roberts, who, like Gagnon, served from World War II through Vietnam, told the other veterans that they had nothing to be ashamed about.
“I don’t think in my memory there was ever a major battle that we lost,” he said. “But we sure did lose the war.
“We lost it politically, not because of you.
“You did your job and you did it well.”
Clallam County commissioner Mike Doherty and Judith Morris, Rep. Norm Dicks’ Clallam County representative, also spoke. Dicks represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
Morris said Dicks, D-Belfair, supports the idea of a national Welcome Home Veterans Day.
She told the PDN that there are no immediate plans to introduce a bill to accomplish that.
Before the ceremony concluded, the 11 servicemen from Clallam County who died in the war were remembered.
Afterward, veterans shook each other’s hands and said the two words that they hadn’t always heard enough: thank you.
Gathered near Joyce
Earlier in the day, about two dozen American Legion Post 29 Patriot Riders and other veterans gathered at the Vietnam highway memorial sign on state Highway 112 near Joyce.
Portions of state highways 112 and 113 near Sappho are dedicated to Korean War veterans.
A bill dedicating state Highway 110 between Forks and LaPush “Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial Highway” is awaiting Gov. Chris Gregoire’s signature.
The Korean War Veterans Association spearheaded the efforts to designate all three highways.
Gagnon, who is a member of the association, said next it will work to get the Tumwater Truck Route in Port Angeles dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.