TONAWANDA (WBEN) - Numerous veterans and local officials gathered at Veterans Park in Tonawanda Thursday afternoon for an opening Welcome Home Ceremony of "The Wall that Heals," a 3/4 replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.
"Those that have never been able to get to Washington or don't understand, it's a visual of all the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that people today can be critical, they can protest, they can march in the streets," said State Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, who served as a Vietnam veteran.
More than 58,200 American men and women died during the Vietnam conflict, which of course was and is viewed as one of the most controversial wars and time periods in the nation's history. The soldiers who returned from Vietnam received the brunt of that frustration.
"The outcry from those that we were protecting their freedoms for was very, very insulting and damaging," said Morinello. "I got back, landed in California at the Air Force base, went into the bathroom and took my uniform off because I did not want to be recognized as a veteran.
"I had clothes made in Hong Kong; I had a fake mustache to out on because you weren't allowed facial hair," he continued. "It was an experience that I would not want anyone to go through again."
State Senator Rob Ortt is certainly not old enough to have served in Vietnam, but he did serve in Afghanistan, and he explained how the courage of Vietnam veterans ensured that veterans of younger generations wouldn't be treated the same way.
"Today's generation of veterans, my generation of veterans, that fought in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan I think really have a great appreciation and a gratitude towards the men that are here today, the Vietnam veterans, as well as the Vietnam veterans who never came back home," said Ortt.
"When I came home, I was treated like a rock star," Ortt added. "There were parades; there were all kinds of programs about reentering civilian life; there were benefits through the VA; there were promotions...there was a real veterans appreciation - that wasn't true for this generation."
If you'd like to visit The Wall that Heals, admission and parking is free, and it's open 24 hours per day. The closing ceremony will take place Sunday at noon.
