Vietnam War veterans honored by JROTC
Photo Credit: Justin Perry
Vietnam veterans stand in the cafeteria lobby after the ceremony in her honor. The Eagle would like to also honor all of those who died in the Vietnam War. 58,000 American lives were lost during the war, as well as nearly 2 million Vietnamese men, women, and children.
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Alyssa Chapin, Staff Writer
February 6, 2012
Filed under News
East Mecklenburg’s gym was transformed from a place of cheering fans into a place of gratitude.
On Friday December 9th, East Mecklenburg’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps hosted a Cadet Salute of appreciation for Vietnam War veterans. The service included many student speakers, and ten honored veterans. For many of the attending veterans this ceremony was their first thank you of this kind.
To begin the event the JROTC students lined up as the war veterans were escorted into the gym. Students like junior Dillon Rayner and freshman Kathy Chau spoke for the honorees and many of East Meck’s students. Chau, whose grandfather fought in the war, said thank you in Vietnamese, and Rayner, whose father also served, gave a history of the events. East Meck’s Major Ralph Ganis also spoke during the ceremony, and with one final salute to the veterans the ceremony ended.
“I took it very personally because my father was in the war,” said Rayner, “and it meant a lot to me to stand up and speak.”
Many students and faculty at East Meck have family members or friends who fought for our country. East Meck’s very own security officer, Charles Bradshaw and Career Center Coordinator, Deborah Smith’s husband were among those being honored. Major Ganis’ brother was also honored.
“Seeing my brother being thanked for the very first time was extremely special to me,” said Major Ganis, “but it was also kind of bittersweet.”
Although the war ended in 1973, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs was not established until 1988, and so in many cases these veterans have been over looked, but not at East Meck.
“It was really nice just to get to say thank you,” said sophomore Owen Taylor, “but I also think they enjoyed it very much.”
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