LYNN — A crowd of veterans, city officials, elected officials and members of the public gathered at City Hall Tuesday morning to honor those who served in the Vietnam War.
The ceremony was hosted and created by Michael Sweeney, Lynn’s director of veterans services.
Sweeney said the ceremony has been a Lynn tradition for more than 30 years, giving veterans the recognition that they did not receive when they returned home from the war.
“Nothing can make up for that time,” Sweeney said. “It does, however, recognize and honor those who served.”
Of the present veterans, 25 of them served in the war, according to Sweeney.
The ceremony began with a prayer from Father Brian Flynn of the Lynn Catholic Collaborative, the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the national anthem was performed by U.S. Army veteran James Smith.
Sweeney thanked those who attended the ceremony, including members of the City Council, the Lynn State House delegation and Mayor Jared Nicholson.
Nicholson issued a special proclamation designating March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day — the day that the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam in 1973.
“I know the past couple of years have been difficult, especially since we missed out on these events the last two years,” Nicholson said. “So I am grateful for everyone who came out today and I am thankful for all Lynn has done for its veterans.”
National Senior Vice Commander of the Marine Corps League Warren Griffin gave a speech to the crowd about the history of the war from someone who enlisted and served in battle.
Griffin detailed how, from 1960 to 1968, moods shifted in the American public about why they were in Vietnam and how there was an increase in defiance against authority.
Despite this change in attitude, Griffin said, those who fought were heroes and did not receive recognition for their acts of service when they returned home from the war.
“The men who fought were heroes,” Griffin said. “They were young men fighting to the death to not let their brothers down.”
Two Lynn members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 908, Petty Officer 3rd Class Walter Guthrie and Specialist 5 Marty Robichaud, said they agreed with Griffin’s assessment of the treatment of those serving in Vietnam.
“It’s been that way for years,” Robichaud said. “When I first came home from Vietnam I was turned away from the VA office because they said ‘it doesn’t count.’ I told them, ‘I was given two Purple Hearts, I think that counts.’”
The ceremony ended with a moment of silence and an outside gunshot salute performed by the Essex County Marine Corps League Rifle Team.
The salute honored the 19 Lynn residents who died in the Vietnam War: Corporal Edward Anderson, Private First Class Frederick G. Atkinson, Lance Corporal Kevin A. Cahill, Sgt. Kenneth R. Carter, Corporal Davia A. Chisholm, Lance Corporal John D. Evans, Private 1st Class Eric A. Fisher, Corporal William J. Flint, Corporal Norman W. Grant Jr., Corporal James J. Hazard, Private 1st Class John J. Mailloux, Specialist 5 Michael L. McCafferty, Private 1st Class Irving G. Miller, Lance Corporal Robert J. Nelson, Corporal William J. O’Brien, Corporal George A. Odiorne, Corporal Peter J. Pennucci, Specialist 4 John L Ramsey and Specialist 5 Carleton W. Upton.
Vietnam veteran Charles Stultz said that he thought the ceremony was perfect and that it remembers those who are here and who have fallen in the war.
“I made it, but a lot of guys did not,” Stultz said. “That’s why I am here this morning.”
