On Saturday morning, the VNA of Northwest Indiana honored the service of those who fought in Vietnam with their inaugural Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Breakfast Celebration. They treated veterans to a free breakfast, a bag of memorabilia, and a simple, but warm, ‘welcome home.’
To protect against COVID-19, the VNA of Northwest Indiana opted to do a drive-thru, pick-up breakfast rather than a traditional sit-down event, featuring a packed meal of veggie egg casserole, bacon, fresh fruit, and juice. They also delivered meals to veterans around Northwest Indiana who could not make the trip to their office.
“A formal welcome home to our Vietnam veterans is long overdue,” said Bob Franko, CEO of the VNA. “It’s really important for us to honor, recognize, and celebrate these veterans – not just for their experiences in the war, but here at home as well.”
One of the VNA’s core programs is called We Honor Veterans, which is dedicated to celebrating the achievements and sacrifices of veterans undergoing end-of-life care. For many of the volunteers and staff that are involved in the program, it is a deeply personal experience.
“My dad is a Vietnam veteran, so I strive to bring this program to a whole new level” said Erica Kerkes, volunteer services coordinator and leader of the We Honor Veterans Program at the VNA. “It’s such an honor to say thank you and to honor veterans. Often, it’s the first time in their life that they’ve been thanked or welcomed home from Vietnam, or any war.”
Franko said that much of his experience in life was colored by the stories he heard from his godfather, a Vietnam veteran who passed away two years ago – including the work he does at the VNA.
“Growing up and hearing about his experiences in battle and how he was treated afterwards kind of leads me to this day,” said Franko. “Today, I think a lot about him and what he meant to me and our family, but also this country. I wish he could be here with us today and I think in some way he is, because this is the culmination of his post-service work and the advocacy that he wanted to do.”
After breakfast, Jim Chancellor, U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, and Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame inductee, gave a virtual presentation over Zoom. He discussed the challenges of living as a veteran, battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the importance of his fellow Vietnam veterans serving as mentors for their younger compatriots and youth at large.
“Join with me into a fight, a fight for right over wrong,” said Chancellor. “Us veterans, we’re all the same. Veteran’s blood runs through many different veins. We need to listen and get involved, to be both students and teachers to our youth. Quality leadership is what we need to heal this nation from within.”
Chancellor also called on the community to support organizations working with local veterans.
“I always say to keep your support local,” he said. “Look in your newspaper, look in your telephone book. See where your nearest VFW is – that’s where you should send your money and support.”
To learn more about the VNA of Northwest Indiana, visit www.vnanwi.org.
