Vietnam vets honored in special ceremony

Still feeling the pain of his return home after serving in Vietnam, Medal of Honor recipient Allen Lynch said it was with mixed feelings that he attended Tuesday's commemoration one of America's longest wars.

"I'm kind of torn. This commemoration for me is a double-edge sword. On the one hand, I really don't want to have a commemoration of the Vietnam War. I've just been able to put a lot of those things to bed. I don't want to rip off the scabs and go through it again," Lynch, a Vietnam veteran, said in his speech to the veterans who attended the ceremony in North Chicago. "On the other hand, I look at the Vietnam-era veterans and I look at what we've done and what we should be proud of."

Nearly 50 veterans, their families and Navy personnel attended the Commemoration of the Vietnam War in the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center's Bourke Hall. It was one of several events held across the nation March 29 on what is known as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald designated March 29 as a day, "for our department to express our tremendous gratitude and support to this generation of Americans through ceremonies across the nation."

The federal health care center, Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense joined other organizations across the country to hold the event to honor Vietnam-era veterans throughout 2016.

"My profound thanks to the service of all veterans, in particular the Vietnam-era veterans that are honored here today," Lovell Center Director Dr. Stephen Holt told those in attendance. "The first thing that you brought us was the idea that we can never, ever, ever not support our troops and men and women who answer the call to duty to defend our country, either here or abroad. Thanks for your sacrifice."

In his statement, the VA's McDonald said the commemoration is a long-overdue opportunity for all Americans to recognize, honor, and thank veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices during one of America's longest wars.

Retired Army Maj. Gen. James Mukoyama, who also spoke during the ceremony, said it is a day to celebrate Vietnam veterans and the accomplishments of the generation.

"We have a lot to be proud of in the men and women who served in Vietnam," Mukoyama said.