H-D honors vets with moving tribute

Jeffrey Vaske, Assistant Director at the Iowa State University Veterans Center, began his keynote speech at the Hampton-Dumont High School Veterans Day by honoring those who came home from the Vietnam War to anger and hatred.
“I’m sure many of you in attendance know about how poorly our Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home,” he said. “There were no parades, there was no public gratitude. There was only disdain.
“In short, the way our Vietnam veterans were treated was a national disgrace,” he added.
Vaske detailed a story where he was working a concession stand for an ROTC fundraiser and was thanked for his service by a Vietnam veteran.
“I was a bit taken aback,” he said. “So without any hesitation, I said, “No, thank you for your service.’ At that moment, he started to well up with tears and said, ‘Thank you for thanking me, because no one has ever done that.’”
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