Honoring the Resilience of Vietnam War Veterans
Vietnam veterans compose a very important proportion of America’s senior citizenry. By now, the average veteran from that era has reached almost 70 years old, and they continue to inspire younger generations with their accomplished legacies. As of this article, there are still greater than six million living veterans of the Vietnam War, including many in the SRQ, Florida area.
In this article, let’s have a quick reflection on what it means to be a Vietnam veteran in 2024.
Vietnam Veterans – Why We Honor Them
The official time frame for active-duty participation in the Vietnam War lasted from 1964 to 1975, though the conflict had mostly abated in 1974.
It was one of the longest and costliest wars in American history, leading to a loss of over 58,000 lives in combat. The average age of someone who made the ultimate sacrifice, and died in that conflict, was only 23 years. Enlisted military members accounted for roughly 50,000 of those combat fatalities.
While some would say the U.S. had “lost” the war, the country never lost a significant battle in southeast Asia during those years. However, there’s no denying the painful memory of so many difficult battles of attrition, which we experience to this day in many ways.
Some of today’s arduous veteran battles involve mental health deterioration, namely Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD). While Vietnam veterans continue to live strong and resilient lives, we cannot ignore the incredible toll that conflict left on so many former servicemen.
March 29th – National Vietnam War Veteran’s Day
In a few weeks, we’ll commemorate National Vietnam War Veteran’s Day. This March 29th will be a special honoring of vets from that era since we’ve reached the 50th anniversary of the last troops exiting the conflict in South Vietnam. It’s hard to imagine it’s been that long since its culmination, but for our part, we’d like to honor those who took part (living and deceased).
How You Can Honor Vietnam Veterans
The good news is that honoring Vietnam veterans isn’t too much different from showing your appreciation for any former service member. These are some things SRQ Vets and others like to do to show respect for those who endured that tumultuous conflict.
- Visit a relative, friend, or neighbor who served in Vietnam
- Participate in a local commemoration of National Vietnam War Veteran’s Day
- Learn the history of that conflict, amid its greater Cold War significance
- Donate to veterans’ support groups
- Help homeless veterans in a shelter
- Support elderly veterans who are sick and alone in a hospital
Don’t forget that we’re happy to offer plenty of other veteran support opportunities. So, reach out to the dedicated team at SRQ Vets to learn specific ways to assist veterans in Sarasota, Bradenton, and surrounding areas. Contact us anytime to ask questions by calling 941-777-8387.
