On Wednesday, July 6, the Miami Valley Veterans Museum hosted a presentation by retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Tipp City resident Mike Jackson. His address was specifically designed to encourage Vietnam veterans but all area veterans in attendance expressed satisfaction at hearing that efforts are being made across the United States to honor those who were never honored by their country for serving.

Jackson specifically spoke about an independent non-profit program he began called Operation Welcome Home for Vietnam veterans. The project started in 2004 when he noted that so many servicemen from that war had not been welcomed home but were instead spurned and mistreated following their tour of duty overseas. “Many of you remember when it was suggested that you change out of your uniform before you disembarked on U.S. soil,” Jackson said. “Or when you were told not to include your military service on your resume.” Heads nodded throughout the room in joint recollection of a common experience.

Jackson recounted his acquaintance with serving in the Air Force during that time and his refusal to change out of his uniform when he returned. “I said that I wasn’t going to be ashamed of having done my duty,” Jackson said. “The blame for Vietnam was directed at the wrong people.” No parades or respectful welcome was given to Jackson or other servicemen who had come back from the war and Jackson was convicted that this needed to be remedied. A published memoir of his service is titled “Naked in Da Nang.” It became the inspiration for Operation Welcome Home, organized specifically to arrange parades and celebrations in the present that Vietnam veterans never received in the past.

Their first OWH parade was hosted in Las Vegas in 2004. In that first year, veterans from Korea shared that their experience upon returning from Korea was that of neglect or silence. “They didn’t receive a warm reception from their cities or communities either,” Jackson said. “No one spit on them but people acted like nothing had happened; respect for military service had clearly declined.” OWH was then extended to reach all veterans. Since then, several national and regional Welcome Home events have celebrated the service of veterans, including one for the Miami Valley in 2011.

According to Jackson, Troy has already demonstrated a “warmth and respect” for veterans of the area, referencing the regular parades including veterans in national holiday celebrations. Mitch Fogle, the Miami Valley Veteran’s Museum curator, hosts monthly coffee and donut events to encourage and inspire local veterans and draw people to the museum. “We like to see opportunities like this take place where men and women who have served can feel hopeful about the impact they had in service to their country,” Fogle said.

The museum is currently in the process of installing new murals with timelines beneath chronicling the sequence of American wars of the past. Dates and highlight battles are listed along with associated memorabilia and artifacts for students, historians, and curious guests to reflect on the past and use that foundation to motivate them toward a more hopeful future.