A couple of people asked for a copy of my speech for the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home ceremony today...Ive shared it below. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for inviting me to speak today – I am truly honored to be here. First, I want to clear something up...I’m not a Vietnam Veteran... back in 1973, on the day we are celebrating today – I was in the 3rd grade...I was 9 years old! However, 9 years later at 18 – shortly after graduating high school – I enlisted in the Marine Corps. This is where I met the first Vietnam Veteran that I can recall...he was my senior drill instructor at Boot Camp – and it was not a very good experience for me...he scared the hell out of me! But I know he made me the Marine I am. During training, he pushed me beyond my limits – and that paid off – something I recognize even to this day. Looking back over my life, Vietnam Veteran’s have taught me several things, things that not only apply on the battlefield, but in everyday life...I’d like to share a few with you today. If something makes you look up – look down; I learned this skill in Jungle Warfare Training in Okinawa Japan. We were training to detect booby-traps in the jungle but in my line of work there are plenty of political booby-traps I must be aware of. If something makes me look over here...I look over there...where they don’t want me to look! You, a Vietnam Veteran - taught me that Another example - You are at most risk to loose the ground you have gained in battle at the very moment that you think you have won the battle. Always keep your guard up, especially when you think the fight is over because the opposition will return and attempt to reclaim what they lost. You, a Vietnam Veteran - taught me that Battles should be fought by those with boots on the ground – not by politicians thousands of miles away. Leadership on the ground or in the air – from the General Officer to the Squad Leader – know the realities of the battlefield and must be entrusted to make the decisions; for they are wearing the dirty boots – boots that are not only dirty from the mud and dust of the nation they are fighting in – but stained from the blood, sweat and tears known only to those on the battlefield. You, a Vietnam Veteran - taught me that A “Welcome Home” for a job well done – After the first Gulf War in 1991, I arrived back in the Good Ole USA from Operation Desert Strom, and again after Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu Somalia in 1993 – to a hero’s welcome. We marched in parades and everyone waved flags; I even had a couple of pretty girls kiss me...on the cheek. That is how a country is supposed to welcome their bravest home. Vietnam Veterans didn’t get that, but You, a Vietnam Veteran - taught me that Leave no one behind – America still has service members unaccounted for, missing from the battlefield and we must keep those Missing In Action or in captivity as Prisoner of War in our prayers. Former US Senator Jeremiah Denton, is an example of America never giving up on our POW’s. Denton was an Alabama native and a retired Admiral, held captive by the North Vietnamese for over 7 years and later, was the first Vietnam Veteran elected to US Congress. Sadly, Senator Denton passed away yesterday at the age of 89. We must leave no one behind for we do not know what the future may hold for them – including Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl who was captured in Afghanistan in June 2009 and continues to be held as a POW by the Taliban. We must leave no one behind. You, a Vietnam Veteran - taught me that Just because the fighting stops, does not mean the battle is over, the fighting does not stay on the battlefield...it often follows you home. It may be physical, it may be mental, it may be both but the battle goes on. We have thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans coming home and we must continue to support our Veterans and their families – they went when their nation called and the nation must be there for them when they call. You, a Vietnam Veteran - taught me that But see, you didn’t just teach me these things....You, the Vietnam Veterans today are teaching generations like me these lessons. America is great because America is good and every man, woman and child here today knows that we must honor the Courage, Sacrifice and Duty of those who are willing to take up arms and stand in the gap to defend our nation and our way of life. You, a Vietnam Veteran - taught us that and I salute you! Welcome Home, May God Bless you all, and Semper Fi
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 20:35:20 +0000
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