Barkhamsted Veteran of the Month Ceremony

 

On August 1st, my husband, George Washington, was honored at a ceremony as Barkhamsted Veteran of the Month. He was the third veteran honored in this new initiative that was launched on July 4, 2021, originally suggested by Joe Jackson of the American Legion National Committee. 

On the first Sunday of each month at 6:00 PM, an American Flag is raised at the Barkhamsted Senior Center and flown for one month in honor of a local veteran. At the end of the month, the flag is retired, folded and presented to the veteran or their family.

The Riverton Grange #169 launched the Veteran of the Month initiative in partnership with the Town of Barkhamsted, Barkhamsted Senior Center, American Legion Post #159, Barkhamsted Lions Club and Northwestern CT Cyber Lions Club. The Royal Coachman Tavern at the Old Riverton Inn underwrites the cost. Dave Roberts is the master coordinator between all these organizations and master of ceremonies. We are thankful to those organizations for this program and for bestowing this honor upon my husband, We were fortunate that the rain held off until the very end of the ceremony. 

We were touched by the number of friends and family who came to the ceremony. We were honored that our state representative, Mark Anderson, came and said a few words. It was a great celebration of George's military service to our country. Usually I am the photographer and have had to rely on others for the photos I have included below. For those who could not make it, I have transcribed here the words that I shared at the ceremony. 

"First thank you all for coming tonight to honor our Vietnam veteran, George Washington.

When George was 17 recruiters came to Northwestern Regional #7 and he decided to enlist. George took the Air Force test and entered the Air Force on August 20, 1965.

He completed basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. Following that he was trained as an Air Traffic Control operator at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi.

He spent the next two years at Dover Air Force Base as an air traffic control operator, where he learned that was his dream job. Years later when he tried to pursue this career, health restrictions prevented him from becoming a controller, one of his biggest life disappointments. On a side note, his bucket list included going up in an air traffic control tower again, which with federal regulations seemed impossible but in 2019, 50 years after having left the service, we were pleasantly surprised when this wonderful controller allowed us the privilege of going up in the air tower at the beautiful Groton-New London airport. It was a treat for both of us. George enjoyed seeing how technology had changed the job.

Back to George’s service: On June 29, 1968 he was sent to Pleiku, Vietnam. He served there as a radar control operator until June 28, 1969.

For his service, George earned the following awards:

Republic of Vietnam Campaign

Vietnam Service Award

National Defense Service Award

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Air Force Good Conduct Award

Air Force commendation

Republic of Vietnam medal of gallantry with palm

CT military service award

Parachutist wings

My husband will proudly tell you that is he a Vietnam Veteran…..now. Fifty years ago, it was a different story. All previous wars or conflicts, men arrived home with fan fare and open arms. Not only did the Vietnam veterans not receive a warm welcome, some were treated with great disrespect and ridicule. Those arriving home from Vietnam put on their civilian clothes and tried to blend into the scenery unnoticed. Many of them, only in their early twenties, were made to feel ashamed for having served their country, risking their lives, experiencing death of fellow comrades and all the horrors of war.

50 years after coming home from Vietnam, George decided he wanted to return to Vietnam. I had high anxiety about such a trip, but our son jumped at the chance of a lifetime for this father/son trip. So, in 2018 Ben & George went to Vietnam to see how the country had changed. When they returned to Bradley Airport near midnight, family and friends greeted him with welcome home signs giving him the welcome he deserved decades earlier.

Despite the stigma and sometimes cruel disrespect George received upon returning home from his service and despite suffering medical issues from Agent Orange that deem him a disabled veteran, George is always proud to say that he served our country, and he greatly appreciates acknowledgements like this that finally welcomes him home and thanks him for his service. It is not too little, too late for all these veterans. We thank the Royal Coachman Tavern and all the organizations listed on the back of your program for doing this for those who served our country.

Thank you, George, for serving our country and thanks to God for bringing him home safely so we could make this life together and be here with our children and grandchildren and other loved ones today."