VETERANS … Veterans taking part in the Flag City Honor Flight take a group photo at the Swanton American Legion Murbach-Siefert Post #479. (PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Jacob Kessler
This November’s Flag City Honor Guard group made a stop in Swanton at the American Legion Murbach-Siefert Post #479 during the evening hours of October 31st.
The Legion, located at 200 Hallett Avenue, had quite the welcome wagon set up.
Veterans arrived on a bus and exited to numerous people who were waiting there to greet them.
The individuals were also holding flags that the veterans walked through in order to get into the building.
The Flag City Honor Flight organization helps veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War Era, and Vietnam War Era.
This year, three flights took place with one on June 7th, another on September 13th and the current one which left on November 1st.
The Veterans and their Guardians leave from the Toledo Express Airport and head to Washington D.C. where they are able to visit memorials that honor their military services, and their sacrifice.
This honor flight was comprised of 15 Vietnam Veterans, which is always significant due in part to their treatment upon returning home.
Today, most people will see a soldier in the store, or anywhere else, and that person will thank the soldier for their service.
When soldiers returned from Vietnam, there was no thank you. There were no parades, or welcome home signs, and not even a simple thank you.
Instead, these men and woman were vilified. They were called baby killers, spit on and never received a proper welcome home.
This is why the legion made sure to tell each veteran welcome home. It was their way of making sure someone told them welcome home and gave them a proper welcome.
WELCOME HOME … Many people were waiting to greet the Veterans with flags as they exited the bus at the Swanton American Legion Murbach-Siefert Post #479.
Richard H. Mowery, a retired Army and Marine Veteran, spoke about what it was like to come home, and the opportunity he has now.
“This is the chance of a lifetime. It is being done to honor all of the veterans that went to Vietnam. A lot came back with PTSD or didn’t come back at all.”
“Everyone was made fun of and called baby killers when they came back. But now, I am looking forward to the wall.”
‘I also want to see the Lincoln Memorial and Murphy’s Grave. It is truly an honor to go and be able to reminisce about the past,” said Mr. Mowery.
While at the legion, the Veterans were treated to drinks and snacks before getting ready for the big day.
The next morning, over 225 people were treated to breakfast at the hanger, which was provided by the legion.
Twenty volunteers came and gave up their Sunday to make sure everyone would have a good breakfast.
The Honor Guard also performed a ceremony to open the event with the colors before everything started.
Following the breakfast, the group left for D.C. where they spent the day, before heading back around 7:00 p.m. the same day.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com