Thursday, June 29, 2017

Nam Vets who missed the pinning ceremony in December

From the MWDN:

A retired major general will visit Framingham Sunday to help recognize local veterans who served during the Vietnam War era.
The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority will host its second Vietnam Veteran Commemorative Lapel Pinning Ceremony at 2 p.m. on July 2. All veterans who served from 1955-1975 are encouraged to attend and be recognized.
The ceremony will take place beside the MetroWest Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which is located in front of the MWRTA’s headquarters at 15 Blandin Ave.
The memorial, dedicated in November 2016, features a 9-foot statue of an American soldier and the names of fallen soldiers from the area.
Major General Peter M. Aylward, former special assistant to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, will be on hand to distribute commemorative pins. Aylward has spearheaded the Guard’s nationwide initiative to recognize Vietnam vets.
MWRTA Administrator Ed Carr said the organization’s first pinning ceremony last year drew 78 participants. For many, it was an opportunity to be recognized in a way they weren’t when they returned from the war, Carr said.
“It really opened the door for a lot of guys that served their country,” he said, adding, “A lot of guys were embracing this recognition.”
Carr said he was encouraged by the National Guard to host a second pinning event and decided the weekend before the Fourth of July was fitting.
“What I hope it does for the community is allow them to recognize that back in the ’60s, when we were going through a cultural revolution, that there were certain people who served their country that were not totally appreciated for that service,” Carr said.

Aylward, who held a range of high-level posts during his career, will be joined by Assistant Adjutant General Frank Magurn, from the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Magurn also spoke at the unveiling of the MWRTA memorial last year.
Veterans who wish to participate in Sunday’s ceremony are asked to bring a copy of their DD Form 214 discharge papers. For more information, contact Ed Carr at 508-935-2222.

5 Comments:

At June 29, 2017 at 9:49 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

How do I get signed up to get one of these pins?

 
At June 29, 2017 at 12:04 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder why the Framingham Veteran's Agent is not involved in this at all. Isn't that his job????

 
At June 29, 2017 at 1:22 PM , Blogger jim pillsbury said...

just bring your DD14 discharge papers... to the event .... and get your pin.

78 Nam vets got theirs in December.

Welcome home

 
At June 29, 2017 at 1:23 PM , Blogger jim pillsbury said...

it sure is the VSO's job... maybe the new guy or gal will be more respectful to Nam Vets.

 
At July 13, 2017 at 11:42 AM , Blogger jim pillsbury said...

It was good to see the MWDN covering the pinning. I hope the Nam vets who read this blog got to go. You deserve it.

 

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