After the dedication ceremony, the veterans took turns posing in different unit groups.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
Westmont resident and Vietnam War veteran David Serikaku said that when he returned home from the war, someone in a business suit spat at him in the airport.
"That was my reception," Serikaku said. "I'd heard about that kind of thing, but I never expected it to happen to me."
Serikaku was one of the veterans who attended Saturday's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the First Division Museum at Wheaton's Cantigny Park. The museum documents and honors the contributions made by the famed 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army over the years.
The anniversary celebration formally got under way Tuesday with a slew of activities including a scavenger hunt and a "dress like a soldier" event. The celebration ended Saturday, when the museum paid particular attention to the contributions the 1st Infantry Division made in Vietnam.
The day began with a memorial service honoring Vietnam dead and missing. Other activities included Vietnam-era re-enactors and the unveiling and dedication of a restored UH-1C "Huey" gunship helicopter, the kind of aircraft that provided fire support during ground assaults.
Paul Herbert, executive director of the museum, said the unveiling of the helicopter was part of the museum's effort to tell the Vietnam veterans' story.
"The Vietnam soldiers had a tough homecoming," he said. "They like to know, even 40 years later, that we as a society respect their service. We want people to leave here with some sense of what military service is like and what it means."
Serikaku set up a display on the Cantigny lawn of a number of artifacts from the Vietnam era he's collected over the years, including helmets, uniforms, weapons and military and Vietnamese money from the period. He said he enjoys talking to other veterans and young people about his experiences.
"It's important to keep telling the younger generations about what we went through," he said. "That way, our war won't be forgotten."
Serikaku added that the reception he gets from people today is much better than the one he received nearly 40 years ago.
"It's nice because people thank me now," he said. "It's wonderful to hear. A little late, but still wonderful to hear."
During the dedication ceremony, special honored veterans assembled before the official unveiling of the Big Red 1 insignia on the nose of the Huey.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
The First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey" Saturday.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
Joseph Nasti of Lemont takes a look at one of the machine guns on Cantigny's new Huey. He trained pilots on Cobra gunships during the Vietnam War.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
After officially unveiling the helicopter, a Big Red 1 division insignia was visible on the nose of the Huey.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
The First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey" Saturday.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
The First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey" Saturday. It will become a permanent member of the museum's collection and can be seen Saturdays at the International Aviation Museum at Clow Airport in Bolingbrook.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
John Kawa, left, of Roselle chats with Garry Young, second from left, of Cleveland. Kawa flew an identical Huey in Vietnam, and Young was a crew chief in Vietnam and was one of the restorers of this Huey. Kawa said there were 775 C model Huey gunships made and he liked them because they were so durable. The First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey" Saturday. It will become a permanent member of the museum's collection and can be seen Saturdays at the International Aviation Museum at Clow Airport in Bolingbrook.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
Huey C model Aircraft Cmdr. John Kawa of Roselle said the regular aiming device he and other pilots used to aim the Huey's rockets tended to get in their way. So he and other pilots would just draw a circle with a "+" in it on the windshield and sight through that. This mark shows the attention to detail the restorers included on this Huey.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
After the dedication ceremony, the veterans took turns posing for the cameras in different unit groups. These veterans were members of the "Rebels" unit which actually flew these gunships in Vietnam.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
Active duty soldiers from the Big Red 1 division at Fort Riley, Kansas, bring in the colors in Civil War uniforms Saturday. The First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey."
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
Vietnam Veterans salute during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner" Saturday as the First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam-era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey."
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
After the dedication ceremony, the veterans took turns posing for the cameras in different unit groups.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
The First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey" Saturday.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
The First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey" Saturday.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
Wearing his uniform, Big Red 1 Vietnam War Vet Franz Brueger stands while each of the five service anthems are played by the band. He and his wife, Nikki, came from Holly, Mich., for the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
The First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton dedicated a restored Vietnam era Bell UH-1C/M helicopter gunship, better known as the "Huey" Saturday.
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer
Veterans were encouraged to join in singing the Big Red 1 division's song. However, most of the men had trouble remembering the words, or the tune. One vet joked, "We have a song?"
Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer