‘It’s never too late to say welcome home’: Vietnam War Veterans Day observed in Cedar City

CEDAR CITY — The contributions and sacrifices of Vietnam War veterans were recognized during a short ceremony at Cedar City’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park on Friday morning.

Local veterans gather for the National Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony at Vietnam Memorial Park, Cedar City, Utah, March 29, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News, Cedar City News

“Every year, March 29 is designated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day,” said Harold Frazer, district commander and member of American Legion Post 74 as he welcomed those in attendance.

The event was staged by members of the Iron County Veterans Coalition.

“This is a time to pay special tribute to the 9 million Americans who served during the Vietnam War era, to the 58,000 names memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and to all of those who never received the recognition they deserved when they returned to America from war,” Frazer added.

Frazer then solemnly read the full names of 14 Utah servicemen who are still unaccounted for — prisoner of war, missing in action or killed in action and remains not recovered — from the Vietnam War. They are:

Ralph Jim Chipman, Charles Richard Connor, John C. Ellison, Clive G. Jeffs, Peter Herman Krusi, James F. Schiele, John Michael Christensen, Raymond Jack Crow Jr., George Lawrence Hubler, Robert Earl Jenne, Albin E. Lucki, Imlay Scott Widdison, Don C. Wood and Robert Charles Wiechert.

“Let us never forget the sacrifices of these men, their families and all who served and suffered for our freedom, ” Frazer added.

Following Frazer’s remarks and a rifle volley salute, additional remarks were given by Larry Bell, who said, “Today, we gather to honor those from Cedar City, Iron County and all of Utah, who, in President Abraham Lee Lincoln’s words, gave their last full measure of devotion. Those whom to us are family, are also counted among the 58,281 men and women, their average age 22 years nine months, whose names are engraved in the polished black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also known as The Wall in Washington, D.C.”

Larry Bell of Iron County Veterans Coalition speaks during the National Vietnam Veterans Day recognition program, Cedar City, Utah, March 29, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News, Cedar City News

Bell also noted as of January 2023, some 1,553 people are still classified as missing in action from the Vietnam War.

“Their families await word of their fate as we continue our diligent work to fulfill our promise and bring them home,” he said. 

Bell also spoke of the 350,000 American warriors who carry both “seen and unseen” scars from the Vietnam conflict, which spanned nearly two full decades, from 1955 to 1975.

“Perhaps it is the fact that those who are Vietnam veterans uniquely comprehend what this day truly represents,” Bell added. “After all, they served and sacrificed yet received no thank yous, no cheers, no parades. Although profoundly impacted by their experience, those who were able quietly slipped back into the lives they had left, as if they had never been gone.”

Bell encouraged everyone to reach out and shake hands or express appreciation to a Vietnam veteran or their family members. 

“It’s never too late to say welcome home,” he said.

Also speaking briefly during the half-hour ceremony was John Fenn, who highlighted the significance and symbolism of the POW/MIA table that had been set up. 

Additionally, Milt Davies invited interested Vietnam veterans to ride on a trailer during this year’s Fourth of July parade.

“Please join us,” Davies said. “We’ll put a bunch of old vets on that trailer. And you know what, we might even play some old rock and roll music from the ’60s. You know, we used to sing ‘Bad Moon Rising’ as we walked out of that compound into the jungle at night.”

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