TUNNELTON — About 100 veterans met at the Tunnelton Honor Roll to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and to honor the county’s Vietnam veterans.
William Childers, commander of VFW Post 2345, said he wanted to make the day a special one. He said a ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans that took place in North Carolina gave him the inspiration to do one in Preston County.
The ceremony included a 21-gun salute. Following the salute, veterans stood at attention and saluted as “Taps” and “Amazing Grace” were played. The ceremony ended with music provided by the Preston High School Band.
Veterans from several wars came out to honor the Vietnam veterans. Many of them were in full dress uniform and from all branches of service.
Among them was 96-year-old World War II veteran, John Paddy.
“I was in the 82nd Airborne. We were there for D-Day,” Paddy said.
D-Day was June 6, 1944. It was the day the Allied powers crossed the English Channel and landed on the Beaches of Normandy, France.
The Rev. Rotha Hall said her husband is a Vietnam veteran.
“I believe the ceremony to honor the Vietnam veterans is great,” she said. “It should have happened when they came home.”
Hall served in Desert Storm in the early 19902 with both her husband and her son.
“My husband, my son and I were all stationed at the same company at the same time. ‘Good Morning America’ wanted to interview us, but my son said no.”
She said the TV show was interested in their story because it was the first time a family served in the same company at the same time.
Vietnam Veteran James Henline Jr. said he served in the 2nd TET Offensive in 1968-’69. He appreciated the ceremony but added that it was “50 years short.” Henline’s father, James Henline Sr., was also a veteran. Henline is the author of the book “A Top Kick’s Prayer” about an Easter miracle that happened to a sergeant with whom he served.
Following the ceremony, a spaghetti dinner was served at the Tunnelton Volunteer Fire Department. WV Caring provided the veterans with appreciation certificates, pinned each one with a flag and gave them Vietnam veteran’s pins and a copies of the Proclamation of the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.
Follow The Dominion Post on Twitter @DominionPostWV. Email: newsroom@dominionpost.com.
