WEST HAVEN, Conn. — The city of West Haven joined state leaders to honor more than 130 Vietnam War veterans in a ceremony recognizing their service and sacrifice on Sept. 16.
“It’s going to make me feel proud. It really is, because for the longest time, we weren't honored at all. So this is nice that they do this now,” Ret. Army Specialist Mark Levine said ahead of the ceremony.
74-year-old Levine was drafted for the war when he was just 19 years old.
“Duty called and I answered it,” he said, “and I'm glad I did.”
Monday’s ceremony marks the first official recognition from elected leaders since the West Haven native and his brothers in uniform returned from the war-torn country.
“The '60s were a very turbulent time,” Retired Sgt. Paul Anderson said. “They were spitting on us, yelling at us. You had to be careful where you wore your uniform and, uh, because people were pretty angry in public places.”
In 2003, local veterans groups helped bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall to West Haven to ensure the names engraved in granite would never be forgotten. Vietnam Veteran Stephen Carney III helped spearhead the project.
“These are all the guys from west haven that served there. These are men who served every one of these guys gave up time out of their lives to serve their country and they deserve to be recognized,” Carney said.
Now, that recognition comes in words: thank you for your service.
“The Vietnam era is one of the most complicated and painful in our nation’s history, and this ceremony is to say, ‘thank you’ and ‘welcome home’ — something these veterans never received,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said in a statement. “Though our veterans never asked to be thanked or recognized, it is our responsibility to ensure that they know that we will always be grateful for their service and they will forever be our heroes.”
To watch the 2.5 hour ceremony, a link can be found here.
Bridgette Bjorlo is an anchor/reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at bbjorlo@fox61.com. Follow her onFacebook, X and Instagram.
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