Veterans for Veterans to honor Vietnam-era veterans

2021/03/20210316_134945-300x120.jpg Photo courtesy Archuleta County
On Tuesday, the Archuleta County commissioners signed a proclamation making March 29 Vets4Vets Day and recognizing those “who served with honor while defending their country and remain thankful to those who fought in the Vietnam conflict and all other wars and conflicts. We are grateful for their brave service and draw inspiration and pride from all that they are. The servicemen and women who served in the Armed Forces represent a generation who exuded the very meaning of courage, bravery, honor and sacrifice.” Pictured, left to right, are Commissioner Warren Brown, Tanice Ramsperger, Commissioner Ronnie Maez, Joe King with Vets4Vets, Commissioner Alvin Schaaf and Linda Hobbs.[/caption]

By Richard Walker

Veterans for Veterans of Archuleta County

 The Veterans for Veterans of Archuleta County will hold a public event on March 29 at 6 p.m. at the Tennyson Event Center, 197 Navajo Trail Drive, to honor and welcome home all Vietnam-era veterans. 

The commemoration recognizes all who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of duty location, and their families. There is no charge for admission. Plan to arrive early for best seating.

We make no distinction between veterans who served in-country, in-theater or who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War period. All were called to serve, and none could self-determine where they were stationed.

Special recognition will be made to the memory of three “Sons of Pagosa” whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C., as well as their families:

• Jose Adoro Manzanares.

• Jesus Magin Archuleta.

• Marcus Guy Fiebelkorn.

Invited guests to the event are Sen. Michael Bennet, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, State Congresswoman Barbara McLachlan and State Sen. Don Coram.

At the end of the ceremony, there will be a screening of the award-winning documentary film “In the Shadow of the Blade.”

“In the Shadow of the Blade” captures the untold stories of Vietnam War veterans and their families as it follows the journey across America of a restored Vietnam War UH-1 “Huey” helicopter. 

As they again fly in the iconic aircraft that once carried them to war, veterans are inspired to share their experiences, reunite with wartime comrades and pay tribute to their fallen. 

The film, which won two Worldfest Film Festival gold awards and a Vietnam Veterans of America President’s Award, aired on the Discovery Military Channel. It has previously screened at the Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan Presidential libraries, the Women in Military Service to America Memorial, the Library of Congress Veterans Forum and many veteran and educational events across the United States. 

The “In the Shadow of the Blade” helicopter is now permanently displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of American History “Price of Freedom: Americans at War” exhibit. 

 For more information, contact Veterans for Veterans of Archuleta County, 507-3005 or vets4vetspsco@gmail.com.