Carson City recognizes Vietnam Veterans Day at Mills Park
Dozens of veterans gathered Saturday at Mills Park in Carson City to pay tribute to fellow war veterans, to recognize the 50th anniversary of the official start of the Vietnam War and to commemorate the 40-year-mark of the end of combat operations, March 29th, 1973.
The gathering, hosted by the Carson City Area Vietnam Veterans Chapter 388, brought together several dozen Northern Nevada veterans of the Vietnam War and other wars for a ceremony, similar to ones held across the county in recognition of National Vietnam Veterans Day.
The Carson City ceremony, as with those held elsewhere, is to honor those who survived, those who lost their lives and those who remain missing in action. Members of all branches of the military were present at Saturday's ceremony, with well over 100 in attendance.
Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell, a retired Navy Captain and Vietnam veteran, spoke of a divided culture and country during the span of the tumultuous war and how, over time, Americans have come to understand, respect and honor the commitment of servicemen and women of the Vietnam War and those that followed.
He spoke of the lifelong bond and brotherhood among the generation of Vietnam veterans and emphasized the commitment each vet has to ensure the lives of all Vietnam veterans, especially those with health problems or who are homeless, are not forgotten.
"As we get older we need to ensure the legacy to never, ever put a generation of warriors through what we went through," Mayor Crowell said.
Rick Arnold, President of the The Carson City Chapter 388 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, said Saturday's gathering at Mills Park next to the Vietnam War Memorial was a fitting place to hold the ceremony. The memorial was placed by members of Chapter 388 and contains the names of all 151 men who enlisted from Nevada and who were killed in the war.
Calling the park and the memorial "sacred ground," Arnold also noted that it is also the site of the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall that stopped in Carson City the last week of October 2012.
"Bringing the wall here was a powerful reminder of the war. It was an opportunity for the community to experience first-hand the sacrifices we made almost 50 years ago," said Arnold. "It was also an opportunity for healing and some measure of closure for Vietnam vets and their families" ... and it was an "opportunity for the Northern Nevada community to show, while it may be belated, the support for Vietnam veterans is strong. And I can tell you very much appreciated."
Arnold also read portions of a speech by President Obama given in May 2012 to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
Also noted by Arnold was Sen. Dean Heller and staff member Mark Sutliff who arranged to have the flag presented at the ceremony flown over the nation's capital. The flag is in memory of Ron Kruse of Carson City, a tireless activist for military veterans and member of Carson City Chapter 388 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, who passed away Dec. 27, 2012.
The flag and flag case presented at the ceremony was to the Kruse family and is "our way of saying thanks to Ron's family for all he did for the chapter," said Arnold.
On a separate note, the American Legion High Desert Post 56 is looking for veterans to help with military honors for the Honor Guard. There are currently 17 members and more are needed. The Honor Guard appears at military funerals and performs Color Guard duties to honor those who have deceased. The Honor Guard also appears at functions such as the one Saturday. For more information call Chaplain Katherine A. Baran, (775) 888-2088 or by email: Katherine.Baran@gmail.com.
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