Vietnam-era veterans were part of a “Welcome Home” event at Bluffton’s American Legion Post 111
By SYDNEY KENT
Wells County Vietnam-era veterans received a long overdue “welcome home” Wednesday, May 17, at American Legion Post 111 in Bluffton.
The event was sponsored by a partnership between the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans organization, the Captain William Wells chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Wells County, and American Legion Post 111.
“Vietnam veterans deserve to hear that they are welcomed home, that their community is grateful for their sacrifice during the war, and that they matter,” Jill Fewell, executive director of WHVV, said at the event Wednesday.
“Each veteran receives a sincere thank you, a brief presentation, and then we pin a lapel on them to welcome them home and take their photo,” Fewell said. “We eventually want to create a book of photos of every Vietnam-era veteran. We also gift them a book.”
The book given out at the event, “A Time To Honor,” is a compilation of first-hand experiences about the war offered by those who served in the Southeast Asia Theater.
Fewell said the book is a “very special piece of patriotism and history,” WHVV hopes to one day include in multiple libraries.
“We have a goal to get the book into the Library of Congress,” Fewell said. “We’re also giving a copy to every public library and every high school in the state of Indiana. It truly is the preservation of history.”
Fewell said WHVV hosted approximately 151 events. In addition to being welcomed home, veterans also have the option to access local resources.
“About 50 percent of Vietnam veterans are not receiving the benefits they have earned,” Fewell said. “Dewey Randall, the Wells County Veterans Service Officer, has been incredible at helping vets access available resources and figuring out the areas where Wells County veterans can look for support. He is responsible for initially organizing the event.”
Randall said this is his second year organizing the event with WHVV.
“Most vets were not welcomed back warmly, or at all, after the war,” Randall said. “This was an opportunity for them to get a handshake, for us to thank them for their service, and give them the gratitude and welcome home they never received.”
Randall said the Wells County Veterans Service Organization assists veterans with many needs, including obtaining benefits that may be applicable to them, and filing service-connected disability claims with the VA.
“We’re here part-time, around 20 hours per week, and we’re glad to help. It becomes a calling.”
Randall said all veterans in Wells County interested in assistance with obtaining benefits or “just coming to talk” should visit the American Legion Post 111, located at 111 W. Washington St., call 260-824-6403, or email: veterans@wellscounty.org.
sydney@news-banner.com
