AMERICAN LEGION HONORS VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS

Vietnam-era veterans honored at the ceremony by the American Legion Post 114 last week.

By MARJ LAW Special to The Sun

On Monday, July 17th, Post Commander Roxanne Dressel led our Jake Pigott Memorial Post 114 in recognizing, thanking and honoring veterans who supported our country during the Vietnam War. Joining with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, Post Commander Dressel awarded our local veterans with specially designed Vietnam Veteran lapel pins in honor of their service.
This tribute represents the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. 49% of our own Legion members served as some of the 9,000,000 Americans who sacrificed their lives or part of their lives in service of our armed forces during the Vietnam War.
Beginning on Memorial Day of 2012, the Commemorative Partner Program is a hometown-centric, veteran-focused initiative designed to assist the people of the United States to give thanks and to honor Vietnam veterans and their families where they live, meeting five national objectives of the Commemoration:
• for those who fought, including prisoners of war or listed as missing in action,
• for their service and sacrifice and to honor the families of these veterans,
• to highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the war as well as contributions of agencies and organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces,
• to pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front; to highlight advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War, and
• to recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our allies during the war.
Every person who served during this period earned and rightly deserves our profound thanks.
American Legion Post 114 meets at 6:30 pm on the 3rd Monday monthly in the Wakulla County Public Library’s main meeting room.  Combat service is not required to become a member of the Legion. Veterans having served federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces since December 7, 1941, and honorably discharged are eligible for membership.