'It's time for their stories to be told': Here's a chance to honor Vietnam veterans

Augusta Chronicle - 10/28/2021

Oct. 28—Approximately 2,700,000 American men and women served in the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1973, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, and upon their return, were not greeted with the fanfare and pomp and circumstance as many previous troops had received.

"They weren't treated the greatest and there was a lot of controversy behind the war," Grovetown city Councilwoman Ceretta Smith said. "They were just doing what their country told them to do."

Now the City of Grovetown is honoring surviving veterans with a ceremony on Nov. 13 to thank them for their service. The city is partnering with the Daughters of the American Revolution based in Macon, Ga., for the Vietnam War veteran commemoration where it will present veterans with a commemorative pin and certificate.

Director of Planning and Community Development Ronnie Kurtz went to a similar event that honored his uncle and was hosted by the same DAR chapter. After beginning his role with the City of Grovetown and seeing the impact of veterans in the area, he told city leaders about that event and they later opted to bring it to the area.

"Fifty years (after the war) we're starting to lose those veterans and it's time for their stories to be told and for them to get recognition before they go away," Kurtz said.

Smith and her husband are Army veterans, and her father and uncles areVietnam veterans. When she learned about the event, she was excited to take part in honoring service members.

"I don't know if people really understand the sacrifices that our service members make and the sacrifices those family members make, so any opportunity to say thank you — especially to this era — it means the world to them," Smith said. "That's all they want."

Smith said the honorees do not have to live in Grovetown or even Georgia to be honored.

Those interested in participating should contact Sandra Darby at (478) 747-7529 or dysa@cox.net with their name, rank, dates of service and branch of military by Nov. 5. The ceremony will be held at Liberty Park on Nov. 13. at 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend.

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