Better late than never: parade welcomes home Vietnam veterans following Honor Trip

The reception the Vietnam veterans received Sunday in Shreve was far more welcoming than the one they received upon their return home from action more than 50 years ago.

"This was a complete turnaround from the way it was," said U.S. Army veteran Steve Watts. "I was drafted, so I didn't have a choice in the matter of going. When I came home from Vietnam, there were actually some people who blamed me for what was going on. It wasn't something I had a choice in.

"This reception here is amazing," Watts continued. "Whenever I wear my Vietnam veteran's hat, young and old people alike come up and shake my hand and thank me for my service. That brings a lump in my throat that people really mean it."

Watts was among 22 local veterans along with a guardian who took a three-day trip to Washington, D.C. as part of the Community Honor Trip sponsored by Holmes-Wayne Electric and the Shreve American Legion.

Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative CEO Glenn Miller welcomed the veterans and thanked the crowd of people who turned out in the CVS Parking lot in downtown Shreve for the Sunday evening ceremony. The event was scheduled for last Sunday when they were originally scheduled to return home, but their bus was delayed and they didn't arrive back in Wayne County until after midnight.

"This is just fantastic. I didn't know Shreve was this crowded," Leonard Bile joked. "What a night."

The welcome home parade and ceremony was postponed until Sunday, Oct. 8.

"Thank you all for coming and showing your support to our veterans," Miller said. "I know they all had a memorable experience last weekend. This trip is truly a group effort."

Shreve Mayor Yvonne Hendershott thanked the veterans for their service to our country and defending our rights.

State Representative Darrell Kick was honored to be among the speakers.

"When I stand before you and see those faces, I'm reminded how great America is because of men and women like you all," Kick said. "Thank you dearly, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for letting me be here."

A representative from Congressman Troy Balderson's office provided accommodations to the veterans.

Trip highlights

"Going to Arlington Cemetery and getting to talk to one of the Honor Guards afterward was a real highlight of the trip for me," Dick McCune said.

Among the other stops the tour made was the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Air Force Memorial and the Pentagon-911 Memorial, as well as the Army Museum.

"It was a pretty eventful trip," McCune said. "We got to see a lot of places."

The point of view of some guardians

Kenny Depriest and his wife, Tammy, served as guardians on the trip. Kenny escorted Curt Sheely and Tammy guided Sam Strausbaugh.

"My biggest appreciation was learning more about what our veterans went through during their time in the service," Kenny Depriest said. "You read about it, and you learn about it in history books, but until you're with a veteran, you don't really know what happened there. It was good to spend time with a veteran. I've known Curt Sheely for years, but I never really knew him until I went with him on this trip."

Tammy Depriest said she was honored to be part of the trip as a guardian.

"It was such an honor to hear them talk about what it meant for them to be together and to finally be shown the respect they deserve," she said. "It was wonderful going to different monuments and hearing them talk about them."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Shreve Vietnam veterans welcomed home with parade after Honor Trip