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American Legion in action
Episode 2512 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about what the American Legion is doing to encourage a national attitude of appreciation for our Vietnam Veterans and to help prevent veteran suicides. The featured story appeared on the American Legion website and is titled, Welcome home, Vietnam veterans and was submitted by Henry Howard.
The mission statement of the American Legion is: To enhance the well-being of America’s veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. The American Legion’s vision statement is “The American Legion: Veterans Strengthening America.”
In the featured story, Howard describes how the American Legion is living up to its mission statement. He talked about the Welcome Home event that occurred on May 11 to 13, 2023 near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was officially named Welcome Home! A Nation Honors our Vietnam Veterans and their Families, the event was created to honor Vietnam War veterans and their families 50 years after the war.
The American Legion included its INDYCAR activation display at the event. American Legion representatives thanked Vietnam veterans, answered questions and provided resources. Veterans of war eras from World War II to modern day stopped by The American Legion’s display and received some swag items, learned about the Legion’s “Be the One” initiative to reduce veterans suicide and signed their names on a special “Be the One” sign.
One of the Vietnam Veterans who attended the event was John Piwowar. He served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division from September 1969 to September 1970. He said this about the event and its purpose, “This is nice, especially the way we were generally treated after the war. The public has finally come around to realize that we just did what we were asked.”
Listen to episode 2512 and discover more about what the American Legion is doing to show a national attitude of appreciation for our Vietnam Veterans and to help prevent veteran suicides.
