Chapter 957 Holds Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 957 held a National Vietnam Veteran’s Day ceremony in Williamsburg, Va.’s Veterans Park on March 29 to honor area veterans.

James City County Board Chair Jim Icenhour and other local officials appeared at the event to give Vietnam veterans in attendance 50-Year Vietnam War Commemorative pins and thank them for their service. Icenhour flew nearly 200 combat missions as a fighter pilot in Vietnam.

“A lot of these men, they weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms when they came home from Vietnam,” Icenhour told the Virginia Gazette. “That’s part of why events like this are so important. It’s important that we honor the men who serve this country. As a community — and especially a community with as many veterans as Williamsburg — we owe them that and so much more.”

“A lot of these men, they fought and died in a very unpopular war, and I know of people who still call us baby-killers even after all this time,” said chapter president Tom Monahan. “It always was a damn shame, and I’m very glad that on a day like today, our Vietnam veterans are finally being recognized for the service they did for this country.”