Jim Franklin
2nd March 2007, 11:16 AM (11:16)
it was to be one in a crowd of over 600 persons to welcome home the 183rd from Afghanistan including our fellow parishioner, Chaplain David Tish, yesterday afternoon. The veterans groups were there in full force and I just walked around waving my little flag and my welcoming poster for Dave saying "Thank you" to all of the veterans and returnees present. As I walked back toward the assets garage where we had gathered prior to touch down because it was snowing quite fiercely, I noticed a long line of about 20 Vietnam vets all at parade rest holding unit flags and as I went down that line shaking each ones hand saying "thank you" to each one tears filled my eyes in appreciation for their sacrifice and courageous response to their call to arms.
It seems to me that the Vietnam vets are trying to make sure that those returning from the strife in the Middle East are not going to be treated like they were upon their return in the 60s and 70s. Later at the Sportsmans show where I was working with my manager for the map company one of those flag holding vets recognized that I had been the one who had thanked all of those in that line came and we had a good visit. He was a meteorologist stationed at Tinker in OKC and had done several 6 month stints for the Air Force in Nam so we had to talk OK tornadoes and our common interests there. Proud to have worn my red, white and blue and wave my little flag and greet my Brother Dave Tish.
It seems to me that the Vietnam vets are trying to make sure that those returning from the strife in the Middle East are not going to be treated like they were upon their return in the 60s and 70s. Later at the Sportsmans show where I was working with my manager for the map company one of those flag holding vets recognized that I had been the one who had thanked all of those in that line came and we had a good visit. He was a meteorologist stationed at Tinker in OKC and had done several 6 month stints for the Air Force in Nam so we had to talk OK tornadoes and our common interests there. Proud to have worn my red, white and blue and wave my little flag and greet my Brother Dave Tish.