The Order of Kosciuszko was awarded to all the Vietnam-era veterans in Kosciusko County. Pictured are the Vietnam veterans that were in attendance at a Veterans Day ceremony in Warsaw on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Text and Photos
By Haylee Gardner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Vietnam era veterans were honored at a Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the Oakwood Cemetery Chapel in Warsaw.

Dr. Tim Boone shares why veterans should be remembered every day.

Dr. Tim Boone, a Vietnam veteran who served in the US Special Forces, was the keynote speaker.

“The weather feels like it should be a special Veterans Day for Korean veterans,” Boone joked. “Today, we the people, gather as one community and one nation; united in gratitude and respect to honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.”

Boone spoke about the sacrifices of veterans and the lessons they passed down.

“We learned about duty, honor, courage, patriotism, and the American way,” Boone said. “We learned what it means to be a veteran. We learned about the freedom too many take for granted today. We learned what freedom costs, and who pays the bill. We learned how we could lose that freedom, and they showed us how to remain free … Today I speak for all of us, when I say thank you.”

Boone recalled the loyalty to the country, and the fear of combat that many face when going into war, and the prayer of “Please God, don’t let me let my buddies down” that is heard by several Armed Forces members.

“From victory to despair, it’s a privilege to serve,” stated Boone.

He told those in attendance that by honoring the local veterans’ organizations, reaching out to all veterans, championing for their healthcare, and never taking them for granted helped them to be seen, and to not let the invisible wounds that many veterans suffer continue to deepen. Boone told a story of his friend that ended up taking their life years after serving as a Major in the Marine Corps, and just before graduating with his MBA.

“We had no idea he was suffering so deeply,” said Boone. “Tragedy reminds us that we must know each other better, and make sure no veteran is left behind.”

Boone also reminded those in attendance that every veteran should be honored on all days, not just the special ones. He stated that along with the veterans, the families should also be uplifted, because they have helped to raise and enrich the communities they are a part of.

“Now is the time for us to stand together for one another, and our nation,” said Boone. “Thank you veterans for your courage, honor, pain, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to our country, and to one another.”

Ken Locke told the story of his friend who was treated horrendously after coming home from Vietnam.

The Order of Kosciuszko was presented to all the Vietnam-era veterans, many of whom were belittled and hated for serving in Vietnam. Locke told the story of a friend of his that served at the end of Vietnam and was told to not tell anyone where he came from.

Locke’s friend took a cab home, and when the cab driver asked where he was coming from, the friend told the driver. The driver then told Locke’s friend to get out, and threw his bag out into the rain. According to Locke, this was not an unusual experience amongst Vietnam veterans when they came home. Locke stated that he hoped the American people never treated veterans like that again.

The Vietnam War lasted for over 20 years, with more than 58,000 Americans killed, 1,573 still unaccounted for, and an estimated 300,000 suffering from the effects of Agent Orange. Twenty-three Kosciusko County residents died in the conflict.

The ringing of the bells that occurred at the ceremony was to symbolize the “bells of peace.” On Nov. 11, 1918, the allies and central powers signed an armistice to end the fighting of World War I, but not before millions of people died; 116,700 of them being from the US.

“We ring the bell today to honor and pray for peace. General (Douglas) MacArthur once said, ‘The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier that must carry the deepest wounds and scars of war,’” stated Locke.

Johnny Butler, the commander for Squadron 49 Sons of the American Legion at Post 49, talked about the Honor and Remember flag. Butler talked about the increase in enrollment after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and how after the War on Terror started, so did the Gold Star Families, along with the Honor and Remember Flags.

The flag was launched on Memorial Day 2008. There are currently 28 states that have adopted the flag as a symbol for fallen military members. Butler let everyone know that at the 11th annual Run for the Fallen that happened in May, at a run from Fort Wayne to Indianapolis, where they would stop at every hero marker, and read off the names of fallen Hoosier heroes. Butler also told those in attendance what the flag’s colors and symbols meant.

“Since 2008, over 5,000 Gold Star Families in the country have been recognized,” said Butler. “Here in Indiana, we recently presented the 370th and 371st flags to Gold Star Families; one for a Marine killed in Iraq in 2012, and another for a Vietnam pilot who was shot down in 1967.”

The ceremony ended with Bobbi Burkhart giving the prayer, and reminders of the lunch at the Legion for the veterans in attendance. Locke also encouraged those in attendance to come to the courthouse square for the Veteran Banners unveiling at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11.