In the Veterans special section inserted into today’s Gazette, Reporter Bobbi Mlynar catches up with some of the members of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 1011th Supply and Service Company, which served for a year in Vietnam. This past summer, the group, made up of soldiers from Emporia and Independence, Kan., gathered for a reunion 40 years after their service.
Many of us of a certain age experienced the Vietnam War through the eyes of CBS’ Dan Rather and other network news correspondents. But we’ve reached the point that we have an entire generation who knows little of this conflict beyond what they learn from popular culture, including movies like “Platoon” and “Born on the Fourth of July” and references on popular television shows when a character is a veteran.
That is, of course, how our history progresses.
The numbers of those who witnessed World War II firsthand are dwindling. Current high school students may have had grandparents who served in Korea. To them, Vietnam veterans are old.
What today’s teens know of war often is the news they read or see about current fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters. They also may have firsthand knowledge because a parent, friend or classmate currently is serving in the military.
In the end, it doesn’t matter which war is current and which wars seem to be ancient history.
What matters is that men and women served our country, whether by draft or voluntarily, doing what was asked of them. These soldiers fought for the freedoms many of us take for granted.
They fought for our right to attend the church of our choice — or stay home.
They fought for our right to vote.
And they fought for our right to protest even when we offend others — Nazi followers parading through a Jewish community, protestors at military funerals — as well as a right to assemble to shield the grieving at those same funerals.
In Emporia, the annual All Veterans Tribute Week has begun, giving us many occasions to thank all veterans — the ones we know and the ones we’ve never met.
If you’re not sure who some of them are, skim through the list of area veterans compiled by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and printed annually in The Gazette’s Veterans section. You’ll likely find your neighbor on the list.
Make a point of saying “thank you” for their service. But don’t limit your gratitude to this next week.
After all, our rights don’t end after the week is over; neither should our gratitude.
Gwendolynne Larson
Executive Editor
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Posted by sandman (anonymous) on November 5, 2009 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gwendolynne, Lovely write-up!!
Posted by reddog (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My reflections of this era. When John Kennedy was killed, the whole world changed. Just before the assassination, he ordered the troops home from Vietnam, the dismantle of the CIA, went after the Mafia and signed an order to back our money with Silver.
Posted by reddog (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 12:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a Vietnam Veteran I ask myself, what more should I be doing to protect our Republic? The key to the future is to protect and honor the constitution. I respect the voices of dissent. Please google Video results for Dissent--Voices of Conscience. Warning--You might want to filter some of this out but, it is very shocking.
Posted by reddog (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 12:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
google Dissent-Voices of Conscience
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