VFW, John Proos honor Vietnam War veterans
Published 9:47 am Thursday, August 24, 2017
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Emotion filled the Cassopolis VFW Hall Friday as Vietnam veterans stood in line to receive a pin from Sen. John Proos. However, when Eddie Mose stepped up to have a pin placed on the collar of his shirt, he was nothing but smiles.
“It feels wonderful to get this recognition after all this time,” Mose said. “It’s just really great.”
In remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, Proos and the Cassopolis VFW teamed up Friday afternoon to present Vietnam War veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces between Nov. 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975 with official Vietnam veteran lapel pins.
The pinning ceremony was the second in a set of three ceremonies organized by Proos. The first took place in Berrien County and the third will take place in St. Joseph County.
Proos and the commander of the VFW gave short speeches before the pinning began, and snacks and light refreshments were provided for all attendants.
“This is a moment where we pause as a community, a county and a state to say thank you [to Vietnam veterans], and to welcome them home,” Proos said. “It’s never too late to do the right thing. It’s never too late to say thank you. Our job is not done until every Vietnam veteran is thanked for the service they provided our nation. That’s the purpose of today’s event.”
While the emotions of the veterans honored varied; some, like Mose smiled and laughed, other held back tears and others remained stoic, every veteran spoken to was grateful to participate in the pinning ceremony, especially considering the way they were treated when they first arrived home from the war.
Rectifying the poor treatment Vietnam veterans received in the past was part of Proos’ motivation for hosting the pinning ceremony, he said.
“Unfortunately, [the Vietnam War] was an era in our United States history that we are not very proud of in the way that we treated our veterans and the men and women who served our nation,” Proos said. “All too often, those who went overseas and served in the Vietnam era at home or overseas were not treated well and were not treated with the respect they deserved as individuals who sacrificed for our nation. We need to say thank you.”
For Alvin Cavenaugh, of Cass County, the thank you comes too late, considering the way he was treated when he returned stateside so many years ago. However, he expressed that he was grateful for the ceremony and the opportunity to see many Vietnam veterans all in one room, something he was especially touched by because he seen great losses in the veteran community, both in the line of duty and to suicide.
“It’s great to see so many veterans here and alive,” Cavenaugh said.
Cavenaugh wasn’t the only veterans recalling his prior treatment at the ceremony.
Ed Alcala, of Marcellus, recalled being shamed by the public when he came back stateside. However, Alcala said that Friday’s ceremony was more impactful for him, in light of his past treatment.
“It’s good to get some recognition,” Alcala said. “It feels good.”
Even Mose, who walked up to receive his pin with a smile recalled the mistreatment he received in the 1970s, being called “baby killer” by people in the streets and receiving opposition from people who he said were not compassionate.
“I was ashamed to wear my uniform. When I got off the plane, I changed into civilian clothes,” Mose said.
Despite the treatment Mose initially received when coming home from the war, he feels that events like the pinning ceremony signals a renewed respect for Vietnam War veterans, something which brings him hope.
“It’s so much different now. Attitudes have changed,” Mose said. “People seem to care. This is a part of that.”
