Fatello: Hampton pays tribute to Vietnam War veterans on Memorial Day

There are times in life when things and moments hit you when you least expect it. Monday, May 29, 2023, on Memorial Day, was one of those times. Now for the record, this year was my 54th year as a veteran, and more specifically, a Vietnam veteran. I have been to over 50 plus years of attending or being directly involved in Memorial Day services. I’ve heard my share of speeches over the years. I have both given Memorial Day speeches or have heard firsthand, dozens of Memorial Day speeches.

In short, I have heard and witnessed them all. Or so, I thought.

American Legion Post 35 Commander Berk Bennett gave the opening address speech that stopped me dead in my tracks. Apparently, this year 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the end of combat operations in Vietnam. March 1973 was the end of all combat operations in Vietnam. Most of us Nam vets know this, but we never acknowledge it. Like most Vietnam vets, we’d just as soon as forget it, then bring it up. But Bennett did something that no other speaker has ever done before. He spoke about the many Vietnam vet members of Hampton’s Post 35. And he did it in such a way that he never mentioned a single name. In other words, he painted this visual collage of the many men and women of Post 35 without actually saying their names, but we all knew who he was talking about.

It was an emotional delivery of respect and honor, of his fellow veterans that had most of us in attendance, on the verge of tears. We knew exactly who he was talking about.

More: NH natives who died in Lost 74 tragedy being added to Hampton Beach Lady of Sea memorial

He honored and spoke of them all. From those who served in the many jobs in the Air Force, to the men who served on ships off the coast of Vietnam in the Navy. To the Navy nurses who served in the hospitals, and to the men who flew helicopters and cargo planes in both the Army and the Air Force. He spoke of the men who built the roads in South Vietnam under the watchful eyes of the enemy. And he spoke of the men who worked around the clock providing artillery support for the Marines and Army infantry.

And then he spoke of the Grunts.

This really hit home with me, having been a Grunt. He spoke of what it was like for them (us). He mentioned how one of the grunts went back to Vietnam during the last 5 years, to look for a missing Grunt, whose body was never recovered. And he mentioned how one Marine Grunt officer had one of the marines in his platoon give his life after jumping on a live grenade, to save the lives of his fellow Marines. That young Marine received the Medal of Honor. Bennett said, “I can tell you, that this Marine, thinks about that young Marine, every single day of his life.” We all knew who he was talking about. And so did those in attendance who were close to that Marine officer.

Bennett reminded everyone that 58,220 Americans were killed in Vietnam. Five were from Hampton, N.H., and one was from North Hampton, N.H.

As Bennett was telling these true stories about the men and women of Post 35 here in Hampton, I swear, you could hear a pin drop in that large crowd on the beach, and again at the High Street Cemetery. It was one of the most powerful speeches I have ever heard. And if that wasn’t emotional enough, our guest speaker came out, and literally “Hit one out of the park” with his incredible speech.

‘Long overdue honor’: Hampton street named in memory of Sgt. Desiree Loy

Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno gave an incredible speech on the heels of Bennett’s speech.

Chief Master Sgt. Reno (United States Air Force) came out and spoke with conviction and passion. His opening line…”It was April, and the air temperatures were well above 100 degrees and exponentially hotter on the airfield on a base in Southwest Asia. An alert came out that there was an inbound aircraft carrying the remains of American military members, coming from the various parts of responsibility, destined to go home to their families.” That opening line set the tone of a speech that Reno would give of how men like Reno would enter these open cargo aircrafts carrying the remains of American service members, in these “transfer cases” draped with American flags.

We have all seen those dramatic photos of caskets with flags draped over them, as they go through the long process before they touch down on U.S. soil again. Reno spoke of how many of the families of these lost heroes, had not yet been notified of their loved ones being KIA (killed in action). There was a movie made in 2009, starring Kevin Bacon, as a Marine officer escorting a Marine home from the war in 2009. It was called “Taking Chance.” If you haven’t seen this film, I strongly suggest that you do. It reminded me of Reno’s speech. Having known Reno since he was an SRO officer at Hampton Academy here in Hampton, I remember when he was first deployed to the GWOT theater. His wife Kimberly was always involved in the Memorial Day assemblies, and I watched them both raise a family here on the Seacoast, as Alex climbed the ranks at the Hampton Police Department.

I admit, I never knew what Alex did overseas in GWOT. But after Monday?

I now know, that he was with a group of Americans who saw firsthand, what this day, Memorial Day, is all about.

And for those who ventured out to Hampton Beach, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, and watched the parade in Hampton, and stayed around long enough to hear these two incredible speeches about sacrifice and honor, you too now know of these local heroic stories that honor the fallen, and more importantly, how it’s so important that we remember. Remembering who, and what this day is truly all about.

Those, that have died fighting, in our nation’s wars.

As the past commander of Post 35, I was never more proud of Bennett, and Reno, as I was on this day. And it was an honor, and a privilege, to bear witness to these two great speeches, on this most somber of all holidays. Thank you both gentlemen. You have restored our faith in not only our community, but indeed, to our country.

Fatello, of Hampton, is a Vietnam veteran and past commander of the American Legion Post 35.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Fatello: Hampton pays tribute to Vietnam War veterans on Memorial Day