Updated: Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day held on March 29

On March 29, in recognition of “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day,” the Tioga County Veterans’ Service Agency hosted its first annual event.

In March 2017, President Trump signed into law the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, which designates March 29 of each year as National Vietnam Veterans Day. The law was bipartisan legislation authored by Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Senator Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and passed unanimously by both chambers of Congress last year.

Vietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome home 45 years ago.  

On March 29, 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam were returned to the U.S. It is also the same date that President Richard Nixon identified as the first Vietnam Veterans Day in 1974.  

The day began at 9:30 a.m. where a wreath laying ceremony was held at the Vietnam Memorial on the grounds of the Tioga County Courthouse.

Following the wreath laying, a ceremony at Owego’s V.F.W. Post 1371, located at 207 Main St. in Owego, recognized and honored all Vietnam Era veterans, the families of those killed in action in Vietnam, and families of those Vietnam veterans who have recently passed away.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Vietnam veterans attending were asked to stand while a token of appreciation was handed out by the Veterans’ Service Agency.  Michael Middaugh, Tioga County Veterans’ Service Agency Officer, read aloud the names of the Tioga County service men that lost their lives in Vietnam.    

Middaugh commented, in part, “To those who return home and have never been told thank you, to those who are still haunted from the nightmares of war or still break a sweat at the sound of a chopper, to those who hear a familiar song that takes you back to a place you’d rather forget, and to those who suffer from Agent Orange exposure and continue to fight that battle,” he added, “We say thank you and welcome home.”

“Welcome Home” proclamations were

delivered by Martha Sauerbrey, Tioga County legislative chair, and also by Donald Castellucci, Town of Owego supervisor along with Vietnam veteran and Deputy Supervisor, Dean Morgan.

Guest speaker, retired U.S. Army officer from Tioga County, Russell Corpin, a five-time combat veteran of Vietnam, Grenada, Somalia, Desert Storm and Iraq, reflected on his tour in Vietnam, as well as his career, and commented, “My heart goes out to every veteran, no matter what war, and we should honor the people who put their lives on the line,” adding, “Everyone in this room did a good thing, and I honor every single one of you.”

For three siblings of Owego resident Larry Cole, a Vietnam veteran who passed away last year from long-term effects of Agent Orange, receiving acknowledgement at the ceremony brought on tears, but they were sincerely

grateful for the recognition. Family members of Donald E. Rummel, Michael J. Chamberlain, Gerald L. Marsh, and Gene A. Gorsline were also recognized and their loved ones honored.

Also attending the ceremony was World War II veteran and previous long-time Tioga County, N.Y. resident Wilbur Murray, now age 97. Murray’s daughter-in-law, Jan, is the sister of Larry Cole, so the ceremony came full circle for both families.  

Another added element to their story, the cousin of the three Cole siblings, James L. Zimmer, lost his life in Vietnam. Jimmy Zimmer’s name is listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Owego. 

Following the 10 a.m. ceremony, a luncheon followed. 

The event was sponsored by the Tioga County Legislature, Tioga County Veterans’ Service Agency, Owego V.F.W. Post 1371, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 480, Department of Defense Vietnam War Commemoration, Office of N.Y.S. Senator Fred Akshar, and Clear Path for Veterans – Southern Tier.