Vietnam vets tribute a moving experience

6 years ago

To the editor:

On May 5 at the Caribou VFW some 250 veterans including many from the Vietnam Era and family members gathered to remember those who served in Vietnam and those who never returned but gave the ultimate sacrifice. It was one of the most moving veterans events I have ever witnessed.  

One of the most emotional parts of the event was the reading of the names of those men from Aroostook County who were killed in action during the Vietnam War.  The ceremony moved me to write this poem.

Vietnam Remembrance Day 2018

One by one they called out the name

Of those killed in action and from where they came.

From Ashland, Caribou and Fort Kent

Those men from Aroostook so willingly went

From Westfield, Easton no town spared it seems

For these brave men who never lived out their dreams

Some in their twenties some older too

It could have been me or it could have been you

Called off to a war that they didn’t start

All these years later still breaking hearts

Those who survived this undeclared war

Often face questions what was it all for

Never were so many brave treated so rudely

For answering the call and just doing their duty

Still those Vietnam Veterans are a special breed

Never giving up on their Comrades when they see a need

And today as we honor those who gave all

Those names now engraved on that Vietnam Wall

Let us never forget and promise in stone

To say thanks for your service and a warm welcome home

A special thanks to the Caribou VFW, the United Veterans of Maine, The American Legion and other veterans service organizations who made the event possible.  To the many volunteers who prepared food for so many, the Loring Job Corps Color Guard, the cleanup crew and to all those who came out on a Saturday in May to honor and remember our Vietnam veterans.

Bill Flagg
Caribou