All troops deserve respect upon returning
A couple of friends wished me a Happy Memorial Day. I did have a very good Memorial Day weekend because I was homebound with a minor illness. I watched a great Chicago Memorial Day parade on TV, followed local new events, watched some of the old war movies on cable.
Because of some of these events I began to remember. I was around 10 years old when World War II ended. I remembered the neighborhood young men home on leave. To me they were awesome warrior gods in uniform. Five of my uncles served in the Army and Navy.
Our parish, Church of Queen of Angels in Chicago, erected a large glass case listing all the men who served. I recently showed it to my daughter and pointed out our relatives and especially the Gold Stars. I also remembered a recent trip to Paris. My wife and I made sure to make a one day tour to Normandy. We saw the beaches and the military cemetery. It is emotional.
My final memory was from some 20 years ago. It was Chicago’s Welcome Home Parade for Vietnam veterans. I don’t recall any bands or floats — just veterans grouped by their units walking down LaSalle Street. I wanted to see my brother who was a recon Marine with a lot of action and two Purple Hearts.
I read a comment by a serviceman recently returned from Iraq who said he must have received a 100,000 “welcome home” wishes and was told by a Vietnam veteran he has yet to receive one. I read somewhere they are attempting to have another Welcome Home event in Chicago. I hope so. I hope this event gets the support of all those good people who have been welcoming home our most recent troops.
Tom McGovern
Mount Prospect