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Date: 4/5/2022
CHICOPEE – Nearly 50 years since the United States departed the Vietnam War in 1973, Chicopee citizens and legislation gathered to pay tribute to veterans and their sacrifices during a March 29 Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony at the RiverMills Center.
The event represented an ongoing process for the city’s Veteran Services Office, with the initial gathering being placed on pause for two years due to the pandemic. Before the ceremony, patrons journeyed through a display of artifacts from local veterans while also paying tribute to the 15 Chicopee residents who died during the war at a memorial display.
For the ceremony, the Posting of the Colors and a prisoner of war missing in action remembrance speech by VFW Post 625 member James Healey preceeded remarks from Mayor John Vieau, Westover Air Base Vice Wing Commander of the 439th Airlift Wing Colonel Travis Board, state Rep. Joseph Wagner and state Rep. Jacob Oliveira.
After reflecting on hosting the event following the challenges of the pandemic, Vieau expressed his pride with Chicopee’s veteran-centric community. The city features 5,000 veterans, including 2,000 veterans who served during the Vietnam War, according to Vieau.
“Chicopee is a veteran proud city…I am very proud of the 2,000 Vietnam Veterans that live in Chicopee. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice,” said Vieau.
In his address, Board reflected on his father and grandfather, who served during the Vietnam War. He stressed that veterans returning from the war did not receive warm treatment upon their arrival, but believes future generations have learned about the importance of honoring veteran’s sacrifices.
“My father did not get a welcome home ceremony when he came back, which is unfortunate. I believe that following generations have learned from that experience,” said Board. The vice wing commander also shared that Westover’s active veterans community is normalizing as the pandemic continues to wind down.
Wagner also reflected on the mistreatment of Vietnam veterans while acknowledging the significant sacrifices they made during the war. “You led with valor, you led with dedication and you led with values, and you should each and every day be received with dignity, with honor and respect,” said Wagner.
In the aftermath of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Wagner said the state legislation is working intensively to improve veteran care services across the state. “The tragedy in Holyoke has led to a broad, thoughtful and deep discussion, with a commitment to do more than what we’ve done at this point,” said Wagner.
With his remarks, Oliveira stressed the importance of respecting the veteran community. “Regardless if you agree with the politics of a conflict or a war, what we all can agree on now is we should be honoring, respecting and taking care of our veterans as they return from the battlefield,” said Oliveira.
The event concluded with brief remarks from Delfo Barabani, the president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 11 and Al Picard, the former president of the Friends of the Senior Center at RiverMills Center. Both shared their hopes that the event becomes a yearly occurrence.