Today, thank a Vietnam veteran for their service

The National Vietnam War Veterans Day was signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017.

Fifty years later, the wounds still have not healed.

Maybe Vietnam War Veterans Day can help change that.

That’s why we were somewhat stunned when preparing a story on the day set aside to honor those who served in one of the nation’s most controversial wars to learn that many veterans were largely unaware of it.

The National Vietnam War Veterans Day was signed into law by President Donald Trump back in 2017. It sets aside March 29, as a day to honor Nam vets and encourages Americans to display the U.S. flag.

It actually traces its roots to a proclamation signed by former President Barack Obama to observe a similar holiday on March 29, 2012.

That kicked off a 13-yearlong series of events that is scheduled to run through Veterans Day 2025.

The last American troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973.

We exited Southeast Asia 45 years ago.

But the bad taste lingers. It was a conflict, with its roots decades before in the Eisenhower Administration, that continues to haunt – both those who served there and the country that bitterly debated the U.S. role.

It was, to borrow a phrase that would return decades later as war loomed in the Middle East, a “line in the sand.”

Only this one was drawn in the jungles of a country most Americans did not know and likely could not find on a map.

It was an attempt to halt the spread of communism, pitting South Vietnam and its ally, the United States, against the regime in North Vietnam and their allies in the south, known as the Viet Cong.

More than 3 million people – including 58,000 Americans – were killed in the conflict. Thousands of others were wounded.

Those wounds fester – both physically and mentally – half a century later.

While the battle was fought a continent away, another battle raged on the streets of America. Young people rose up against the U.S. involvement in the war. The nation was divided.

Bearing the brunt of that bitter split, through no fault of their own, were the men and women who served in Southeast Asia.

They were not always welcomed home with respect. To be honest, some were disrespected, unfairly tagged as “baby killers” and worse and scorned by some, including some older veterans, as being unable to declare victory in a conflict.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act will not completely salve those festering wounds. But it is a good start. Some are referring to it as “Welcome Home Day,” an attempt to reverse the strain of so many less than welcoming returns by soldiers who served in Vietnam.

Perhaps telling of just how deep the scars on the psyche of both the nation and vets run is the fact that many groups we contacted were not aware of the day set aside this week to honor them.

Rocco Polidoro, the longtime past commander of American Legion Post 227 in Springfield, sounded a note of caution.

“Most veterans don’t want to honor these specific dates of the many unjust wars like Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan,” Polidoro said.

“We prefer to honor the role of our active duty military and our veterans of all wars.”

A special event will be held at FOP Lodge 5 in Philadelphia. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and state Rep. Martina White, R-170 of Philadelphia, will present commemorative pins to eligible Vietnam War veterans.

Arthur “AJ” Burn of Linwood is a Nam vet with the 1st Marine Division who saw action in the Tet Offensive.

He hopes the day can push the trend to look at the war in a different, more positive way.

“During the Vietnam War, especially toward the end of it, when we came home, it was looked at as a negative, There were no parades, no welcome homes,” Burn said. “To get this recognition is a good thing.”

They say time heals all wounds.

Fifty years after the Vietnam War scarred the nation’s psyche, that process continues.

Vietnam War Veterans Day will not erase all of those bitter memories.

But it is an overdue thank you and salute to those who served, as well those who did not return.

It is the opportunity to say something that too often did not get said 50 years ago:

Thank you for your service.