Vet felt shunned by parade participants
Reader Input
On Veteran’s Day I strapped on my back brace and grabbed my cane, and walked to City Hall to join about 20 other Vietnam vets to march. I wasn’t wearing camouflage, patched vest, or a Legion cap. I mingled until a vet introduced himself to me. When I told him my age, he commented, “Heck, you’re just a kid,” then turned away. Other than two vets, one Tex and a kind ex-Marine named Ray, I was ignored, made to feel I didn’t belong. I almost left, but came back to linger behind them by myself. One handed out small flags to the others, he didn’t approach me. The crowd was great. The parade was to welcome and honor Vietnam vets, but couldn’t make one of their own feel welcome. I walked in the rear with, thank you, Ray. With my illnesses the march wasn’t easy and I don’t know if I’ll be able to next year, but I doubt I’ll be missed. Sure compared to most of you, I’m just a kid. But when I was really just a kid in the early ’70s, it was welcome. Thanks brothers. EDDIE TALLANT, Auburn
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So Eddie, what branch of the service were you in? What conflict did you participate in? Are the brace and cane necessary due to injuries suffered while in service to your country? Please let us know a little more about you so that we can support you.
"...join about 20 other Vietnam vets to march."
Eddie, it says you were joining 20 OTHER Vietnam vets. That says enough for me. THANK YOU!
Eddie, I too am sorry the others did not make you feel welcome. I want to thank you for your service to our country. Hopefully, next year will be better and more inclusive.
Eddie;
What did you do to show that you were a vet? A cane and plain clothes doesn't give much information to others. Most people, vets or not, only have a few seconds to recognize who is with who during a busy event like Veteran's Day activities.
Maybe you should show up at some other "off-holiday" activities and let people know who you are. Just be prepared to engage in some spirited conversation full of questions about each other's service. ;)
Deja_View: Yeah, it was Eddie's fault.
You probably would have received a much warmer welcome from Veterans For Peace, who were warmly greeted by the spectators, because they seem to be a very tolerant and open group.
Inhmael, they sure do, most of their members are not veterans. Perhaps a more fitting name for the organization should be Veterans and others for Peace.
Eddie, I hear you. The veteran organizations have become a place for one upmanship. I guess you were not in the military in '67 and '68. They have their own special club. I found the attitude when I went to join the VFW. Once they found out when my service was they ignored me. There are too many special groups. I have heard it has changed but I still see the ignorance in some. I don't own anything camouflaged and couldn't fit in my Marine Corps uniform if I still had it and I'm not going to be buying a new one. I felt out of place at the parade and chose to be a bystander. It did hurt when a medal was handed to a non-veteran next to me. The man handing them out wouldn't even look in my direction and I was right next to her (the non-veteran). It's even more disheartening to see veterans ignored and their service marginalizedd.
One more thing Eddie, Welcome home.
Hahaha lol I just read my post. Sorry. I think I'm special just like the guys I was talking about think they're special.
I was jealous and envious of another. Gosh darn it. It's not all about me the.
I'm going to go chant and beat a drum.
Welcome home veterans.