Vietnam Veterans cheered in OC

On Saturday, applause greeted Oconee County Vietnam era veterans as they received an escort into the gymnasium of Seneca’s Gignilliat Community Center. Sister station WGOG reports that the event was the first of several during the next three years to call attention to a 10-year war that cost the United States nearly 60,000 of its service members. Part of the program was devoted to the memory of 21 Oconee County residents killed during the Vietnam War. Featured speaker was retired Judge Alex Macaulay, a combat medic during the war. Macaulay started and ended his remarks with a two-word salute to the veterans: “Welcome Home.” Those two words were poignant because U-S Vietnam veterans have not forgotten the rude reception that some of them received when they first returned. Oconee County Veterans Affairs director Jerry Dyar announced that a Vietnam era commemorative flag will fly for 30 days outside the office in Walhalla and then will be permanently displayed inside the office.