Oconee hails its Vietnam era veterans

Sustained applause greeted Oconee County Vietnam era veterans today as they received an escort into the gymnasium of Seneca’s Gignilliat Community Center. The event was the first of several during the next three years to call attention to a 10-year war that cost the U-S nearly 60 thousand of its service members. Part of today’s program was devoted to the memory of 21 Oconeeans killed during the Vietnam War. Featured speaker was the retired Judge Alex Macaulay, a combat medic during the war. Macaulay started and ended his remarks with a two-word salute to the veterans: “Welcome Home.” Those two words were poignant because U-S Vietnam veterans haven’t forgotten the some times rude reception that some of them received when they first returned. The war divided a Southeast Asian country and divided many Americans. But today’s event was about gratitude for those who served and sorrow for those who were killed.  Jerry Dyar, county veterans affairs officer, announced that a Vietnam era commemorative flag will fly for 30 days outside the V-A office in Walhalla and then will be permanently displayed inside the office.