Vietnam vets to get parade, 30 years later Vietnam vets to get parade, 30 years later

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Chillicothe Gazette - Chillicothe,OH,USA
... Some of the Vietnam vets are very proud of their service, and they deserve to be. Others, however, still suffer PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and other ...

Vietnam vets to get parade, 30 years later
Celebration plannedVietnam vets to get parade, 30 years later

By LISA ROBERSON
Gazette Staff Writer

More than 30 years after the U.S. ended its conflict in Vietnam, Ross County soldiers will be honored this Veterans Day with a special "welcome home" and "thank you" parade.

Melody Smallridge, of Rolling Thunder Inc. Ohio Chapter 3, said the celebration is long overdue.

"Back in those days those soldiers did not have the support like our soldiers of today do," Smallrige said. "Instead of being greeted with yellow ribbons, a parade and a thank you, they were greeted with communist flags, people spitting on them and being called baby killers. Some of the Vietnam vets are very proud of their service, and they deserve to be. Others, however, still suffer PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and other diseases."

Therefore, its time to give these men and women the welcome home they deserve.
"We can't change the past, but the parade - the welcome home thank you day to honor those soldiers - can start the healing process and honor those veterans.

The parade is at 2 p.m. Nov. 12 It will wind down the downtown city streets. Other activities including a display in the city park of the Chained Eagles of Ohio's Vietnam War Wall of Remembrance, a military chopper landing at Diamond Two in the city park and the Ohio National Guard rock climbing wall.

A pre-parade ceremony will take place at noon at the corner of North Paint and West Water streets with guest speakers the retired Col. Barbara Cooper, Vietnam War nurse, and Mayor Joe Sulzer, who is also a Vietnam War veteran.

Darrell Robinson, a Vietnam War veteran and former member of the U.S. Coast Guard, is putting together a float as a memorial for soldiers who fight in the war and are listed as either prisoners of war, missing in action or killed in action.

The memorial will have the pictures and information of 23 Ross County Vietnam soldiers who may be gone but are not forgotten.

Smallridge said of those 23, one is still classified as missing in action.

He is Glenn W. Mowery, a former of Chillicothe resident and graduate of Chillicothe High School. He was listed as MIA on March 26, 1968, after he was injured on the field; however, as he was being transported by medivac, the helicopter crashed. Neither Mowery's remains or the wreckage were recovered.

The memorial will be unveiled at the pre-parade ceremony.

(Roberson can be reached at 772-9376 or via e-mail at lroberso@nncogannett.com)

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/ap...510260325/1002