We in Windham are fortunate to have great community support. This past week, the entire Scarey family and I spent a couple of hours picking last year’s flags from the graves of the veterans, first responders and family of veterans and putting new flags out in their honor.
Memorial Day is such a somber holiday where the American population honors all who gave their lives for our freedoms. Walking through the Cemeteries and reading the headstones and plaques of the veterans is very moving, knowing how each has a story regarding their time serving our country.
WWI and WWII seem to be our biggest loss of life in war and the brave millions who came together on the home front and front lines to fight for the values we so much are blessed with.
Let us not forget the lives lost in Korea, Vietnam, the War on Terror and Afghanistan. God bless the men and women who gave their all for our country.
This brings me to my personal feelings as a veteran of the Vietnam War. I came home in December of 1967 while the war was continuing.
The Tett offensive came right after I came home, and it was the fiercest fighting of the war. I was one of the many who came home to a country that was not too happy with the returning veterans.
The most egregious event was when Jane Fonda visited North Vietnam in 1972. I was home for almost 5 years at that time. She was at that time a very successful actress, one who was an Oscar-winning actress and still, even now hurts all Vietnam veterans.
She has still not been able to outrun the notoriety of her actions. Although many of her actions, including speaking on Hanoi radio and denying the reported conditions of American POWS, drew criticism, it was her posing for a photo on a North Vietnam anti-aircraft gun that sparked widespread hatred among veterans and earned the nickname “Hanoi Jane”.
I remember how I felt then, and I still feel betrayed. Jane [in my opinion] became one of the most hated people associated the war.
Sensationalism and propaganda, often advanced by the power and influence of the media, have perpetually played a key role in controversial events, especially warring conflicts.
The counterculture movement of the 1960’s and 70’s spawned an arousal of skepticism and defiance of authority, especially relating to the Vietnam War.
Because of the humiliating Watergate Scandal and the unpopular Vietnam quagmire, people became disillusioned with the glory and virtue of the American government system and military.
Viewing the system now as a concern requiring a watchdog and gatekeeper, the masses heavily depended on the media to reveal to them “the truth” in their news and event information.
Anti-war activists became ubiquitous in popular culture. It became another epic struggle between the Hawks and the Doves.
Even celebrities and high-profilers used their star-power to indoctrinate the masses into supporting the principles of socialism and communism and sympathizing with North Vietnam, thus becoming a greater enemy to American soldiers than the Viet Cong themselves.
This coming Saturday, May 17 at 10 a.m., there will be a dedication ceremony at the new Jewett veterans memorial across from the Jewett Town Hall.
There is, as far as I know, only one remaining WWII veteran still with us, and that is a gentleman named Pete O’Brien.
Pete is a member of VFW Post 1545 who served in the US Navy in the Pacific theater. The ship he served on was hit with a kamikaze that sank his ship.
Pete served as commander at our post along with other office positions. He also came home and became a beloved electrical contractor who served the mountaintop. He is one of my heroes for his service and continued friendship.
On May 22nd at 9 a.m., we will be holding our annual VFW Memorial Day ritual at the WAJCS at the monument in front of the school. All are welcome to attend.
The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced a three-pronged approach to eliminate barriers and streamline the process for how eligible survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and servicemembers apply for and receive VA benefits and services.
Starting this month, VA’s Office of Survivors Assistance will be moved from the Veterans Benefits Administration to the Office of the VA Secretary, reversing a Biden-era decision that buried OSA under layers of bureaucracy. Starting immediately, VA will begin work to identify areas where automation can be used to make the DIC claims process easier to navigate for survivors.
“The last thing survivors need in their time of grief is frustrating red tape and bureaucracy. That’s why we are creating a better system to more quickly and effectively provide survivors the services, support and compassion they’ve earned,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel from past conflicts to their families and the nation. Within this mission, we search for missing personnel from World War II (WWII), the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other recent conflicts. Our research and operational missions include coordination with hundreds of countries and municipalities around the world.
More than 80 years after his plane was shot down over Germany, the remains of WWII Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant Hubert Yeary have been laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
VFW Junior Vice Commander Tim Peters was in attendance with Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), who oversees the agency’s mission of fullest possible recovery, identification, and repatriation of the remains of our missing personnel.
Peters offered condolences and presented a VFW memento to Yeary’s family members. DPAA’s mission to never leave a fallen comrade behind remains a top priority for the VFW.
God Bless all who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our Nation. Keep them in your prayers along with those still serving our country.
Marc Farmilette, PDC – Commander VFW Post 1545
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