'Welcome Home:' Vietnam veterans honored during Fremont County pinning ceremony

Carie Canterbury

March 29

After 50 years, more than 80 Fremont County veterans were properly welcomed home and honored during a 'Vietnam Era Veteran Welcome Home and Pinning Ceremony' Friday at the Cañon City VFW.

This welcome home celebration was long overdue.

"Today we are doing what should have been done 50 years ago," said Brandi Johnson, Humana-Broker, Relationship Manager, who organized the ceremony.

More than 80 Fremont County veterans were properly welcomed home and honored during a 'Vietnam Era Veteran Welcome Home and Pinning Ceremony' Friday at the Cañon City VFW. (Carie Canterbury - Daily Record)

She said there is a specific generation of patriots who were not treated with respect or shown gratitude during their service by the citizenry.

"Today we commit to every effort to right that wrong for the Vietnam-era veterans among us," Johnson said. "...We resolve it will not happen again."

Men and women from all service branches were recognized during the event, which was hosted by Humana, the Cañon City VFW and The Reed Agency.

"It's like a homecoming for me, really - a big family," said Dannie Turner, a U.S. Army veteran. "We didn't have that in Vietnam, so here I am. I think all of us feel that way."

Joshua Caverzagie, VFW Post 4061 Commander, said the ceremony was about the community coming together to honor the veterans, learn from their experiences and ensure that they receive the recognition and support they rightfully deserve.

"As we welcome you home today, we hope that that ceremony serves as a small token of our immense gratitude," he said while addressing the veterans. "You are not just warriors, you are our teachers, our mentors and role models."

Emmett Delgado, a Navy Seal veteran, served three tours in Vietnam in 1967, 1968 and 1969. His team worked with the 9th Infantry in the Mekong Delta.

"I enjoyed the service, but nobody ever thanked me when I got home," he said. "My last day in country, I was wounded; I woke up in Japan, then they flew me to Alaska and then to the medical center in California. I never got to go through the turmoil these guys did where they were getting spit on, so to see these guys get to come back like this - the humanity of today was really good. I really appreciate what they did."

Army veteran Barry Kirkpatrick did experience poor treatment when he returned to the U.S. from Vietnam.

But the one ray of hope that he held on to was the anticipation of meeting his 8-month-old son who was born when he was overseas.

Friday's ceremony meant a great deal to him.

"It hit me in the heart, I'll tell you that," he said. "I was amazed at how many people were here."

Fremont County Commissioner Debbie Bell reminded attendees of the trauma that confronted these veterans when they returned home.

She said 3.1 million American military members served in Vietnam with honor and bravery. Of those, 58,193 Americans died; 153,372 Americans were wounded in action and thousands more went missing in action or were held as prisoners of war.

There currently are 6.4 million living Vietnam-era veterans, which is considered from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.

"Each of those statistics represents a person, a loved one, a soul," Bell said.

Some families were planning homecomings for their loved ones who never made it home and those who did return certainly did not receive a welcome-home parade.

"You deserved to be covered in glory on your return home," she said. "...You suffered the accusations, the hatred, the name calling, all of the other unmentionable horrific things simply because you stood up and served."

She said they were betrayed by the people they were protecting, which feels like the ultimate betrayal.

"On behalf of the millions of Americans who turned their backs on you, please accept my deepest apologies, on behalf of the entire nation, for their mistreatment of you," she said. "I am so deeply sorry. You deserve proper recognition of your service, and I am thrilled to know that you are finally receiving that today."