Sunday, April 28, 2024
The Hood County Commissioners Court declared March 29 Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran’s Day in the county during a regularly scheduled meeting March 12.
“We have one more proclamation,” Hood County Judge Ron Massingill said during the meeting. “This is a very important one, I think, and long overdue.”
The proclamation began by stating our nation's Vietnam War commemoration gives us the opportunity for all Americans to “recognize, honor and thank” Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices during the Vietnam War from Nov. 1, 1955 through May 15, 1975.
More than 9,000 organizations across America have joined with the Department of Defense as a commemorative partner to honor our nation’s Vietnam veterans, including all 197 chapters of the Texas Daughters of the American Revolution and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the proclamation reads.
This commemoration also includes nine million Americans, with approximately 7.2 million of them living today, and makes no distinction about who served “in-country, in-theater or were stationed elsewhere during those 20 years,” as they all answered the call of duty.
In 2016, Veteran’s Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald designated March 29 — the last day U.S. troops were on the ground in Vietnam — as a day to honor those who have “borne the battle,” and to extend gratitude and appreciation to them and their families.
Massingill, along with the members of the court, unanimously proclaimed March 29 Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran’s Day in Hood County.
Faye Landham, Margaret Cook and Laura Fisher, members of the Friends of Memorial Lane in Granbury, were also present to accept the proclamation during the meeting.
“These three ladies right here do so much for this community,” Massingill said. “The Friends of Memorial Lane, I'm telling you, it's just wonderful. If anybody hasn't seen the Friends of Memorial Lane, please go down there and visit. It's one-of-a-kind in the whole nation.”
“Maybe even the whole world,” Landham said.
