MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) – It’ll be an emotional return home for 53 Northeast Wisconsin Vietnam War veterans as they cap a two-week tour of Vietnam with a special welcome home celebration at Menasha High School.
The trip was organized by Old Glory Honor Flights and Steve Trinkner is one of their board members.
He says Saturday’s reception will be a long time coming for many vets who didn’t get the respect that they deserved decades ago.
“It was commonplace and protocol that these guys were told to change out of their uniform before they went through an airport when they returned home in the ’60s,” explains Trinkner.
That means a proper return home and fitting admiration is something that many of these 53 individuals have never experienced to this point.
“For a lot of them, the original return was a very different scenario than what they’re going to experience on Saturday,” he says.
The group departed back on February 24 and have been on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Vietnam with fellow veterans from the area.
For many, it’s a return to an area that years ago they couldn’t wait to leave.
“This trip will give these vets an opportunity for some closure,” says Scott Delsart, Old Glory Honor Flight Member. “Seeing firsthand how the Vietnamese people have recovered from the war will undoubtedly induce some much-needed healing for themselves.”
The trip itself was unbelievably emotional for the veterans and it’s safe to assume that returning to family and friends will also induce strong feelings from the group.
Hopefully adding to that experience will be thousands of community members on hand to cheer their return.
“No one can prepare to have 3,000 people in a location there just to do something as simple as cheer for them and thank them,” explains Trinkner.
Often times return celebrations are held at airports, such as in Green Bay months ago, while this will take place at the Menasha High School Fieldhouse.
“We want to see absolutely everybody that we can possibly put in that place come out and welcome these guys back,” says Trinkner.
The doors open at 5 p.m. and the veterans are expected to return sometime between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Those attending are asked to enter through doors 15 and 26 only.
Community members are encouraged to invite family and friends and dress in red, white, and blue apparel for the occasion.
“If you can’t get behind local veterans, local heroes, who can you get behind in the community, right?” adds Trinkner.
