‘Welcome Home’ — Onalaska event honors Vietnam veterans

An event in Onalaska drew a great crowd Saturday to honor Vietnam War veterans.

More than 200 veterans and guests came to the American Legion Post 336 for the special Welcome Home event that not only recognized the service of the veterans but also marked the 50^th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam. 

A long line of people greeted each veteran as they arrived at the post. They thanked the vets for their service and welcomed them home.  

Brad Heller, the Commander of the La Crosse County Council of the American Legion, representing all the posts in the county, said that many of the veterans didn’t get that kind of greeting when they returned to the U.S. after serving.

They sought to change that with a show of support Saturday.   

“It’s an opportunity to right a wrong,” Heller said, “it’s an opportunity to heal some of those wounds that they’ve carried, whether it’s physical or emotional and it’s an opportunity to show we care, we remember, and that we’ll support them as long as we have to.” 

Besides speakers that included a National Vice Commander of the American Legion, there was a 21-gun salute, and a remembrance of the 28 servicemembers who died during the war. 

After the ceremonies, the veterans had the opportunity to sit and share stories and memories of their time in the service.  

While most of the veterans who attended were from the area, Heller said that veterans from Minnesota and as far away as North Carolina came to Onalaska for the event.