Vietnam War veterans draw cheers at Arlington Heights parade
When John Goggin of Arlington Heights returned to the United States in 1967 after serving with the 1st Air Cavalry during the Vietnam War, he was told to not wear his uniform and to just go back to work as if nothing had happened.
“I came home during the height of the demonstrations against the war, so you didn't talk about the war,” said Goggin, reflecting on the reception Vietnam veterans received at the time. “Vietnam vets were kind of a forgotten people.”
Many of those forgotten veterans were remembered Monday in Arlington Heights. They received standing ovations from cheering crowds as they walked in the Memorial Day parade.
More than 60 Vietnam veterans, including many members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 311, joined in a parade that focused on them. It wound through village streets and ended with a ceremony in Memorial Park honoring the living veterans who served their country and the fallen heroes of the military's five branches.
The crowds were unprecedented for a Memorial Day observation with rows of people lining the sidewalks and spilling onto the streets all along the parade route.
“This rivals the Fourth of July parade, which is usually much bigger than this one,” said Village President Arlene Mulder. “The warmth is really not from the sun ... it's from finally having the opportunity to welcome home our vets from the Vietnam War. Nobody ever said thank you, and this was an effort to say thank you. It was overdue, the reception that the crowd has given. It's never too late to honor someone.”
Residents, businesses, police and firefighters, government officials and dozens of volunteers came together to make the recognition possible.
“We're please how every aspect of the community has come together and what better year to do it than our 125th year,” Mulder said.
Army veteran Dick Aumuller of Arlington Heights, who served during peace time between 1961 and 1963, said it's great that people are finally acknowledging the contributions of Vietnam veterans.
“I wish everybody could do this every day to honor the vets,” he said. “They deserve it. They have been overlooked, forgotten, ostracized. They truly were Americans in every way serving their country, whether we agree with them or not.”
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 311 members were humbled by the reception from the roaring crowds.
“We never had this feeling before ... nothing in this scale,” said Jim Bruckman of Mount Prospect.
Bill Christiansen of Des Plaines, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 311, said being part of the Arlington Heights parade helped chapter members bond and drew out veterans who don't belong to any fraternal organizations.
“It was like their coming out too,” said Christiansen, who participated in the 1987 homecoming parade for Vietnam veterans in Chicago, which he said was an impressive turnout of support. “For some, (this) was their first welcome home.”
A 200-member choir assembled from various local church choirs sang military service songs followed by a recognition of the families of Arlington Heights' fallen military heroes.
More than 500 veterans are honored at Memorial Park, and 75 of them were killed in action.
“I am humbled to be amongst you and also to be part of this country's history as a combat veteran,” said Lt. Col. David Owen, an inspector/instructor with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines. “We're here to remember that freedom isn't free. We are here to honor sacrifice ... the sacrifice of putting nation before self. We need to continue to tell the story.”
The crowds fell silent when Ellen Janda, commander of the American Legion Post 208, read the names of the fallen service members since last Memorial Day, and Greg Padovani, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee, read the names of 16 fallen Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, whose names are etched on bricks at Memorial Park.
A lone bugler playing taps and a 21-gun salute by the American Legion Post 208 Rifle Squad brought ceremony to a somber close.