OXFORD – In 2007, March 30 was designated as the national “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” by the United States Congress and Senate. In celebration of the nationally recognized day the NYS Veterans’ Home in Oxford held a special ceremony to honor the United States veterans of the Vietnam War on Thursday afternoon.
Attendance at Thursday’s event was high, including 33 residents of the Veterans’ Home, five representatives of the Vietnam Veterans of America Utica NY Chapter 944 – also representing the Purple Hearts Chapter out of Utica – and 24 members of the Patriot Guard Riders traveling from as far away as Albany, holding aloft 22 American flags and lining the periphery of the room.
Veterans’ Home administrator Dr. Philip Dzwonczyk opened up the ceremony with a speech, which took place in the home’s assembly hall. He thanked everyone in attendance, taking special note of all of the Vietnam veterans in the room and thanking them on behalf of the Veterans’ Home for their service.
Eleven-year-old Cora Van Kingsley serenaded those in attendance with her trumpet skills, playing the “Star Spangled Banner,” “Oh Danny Boy,” and “Taps,” at different junctures of the program, concluding with “God Bless America.” Van Kingsley has been receiving trumpet lessons for the past four years from a World War II veteran who, during the war, had formed a 60-piece band for the 102nd infantry division. Van Kingsley receives her lessons for free and so in an effort to give back to the community she has been donating her time to play at the Veterans’ Home since 2010.
Many of the 31 Vietnam Veterans living at the NYS Veterans’ Home were in attendance Thursday, and they were given special recognition individually by administrators.
“I can not say how much I appreciate your service ... If not for you our nation would not be free,” said Pastor Ralph Hinman. “Thank God for each and everyone of you ... God appreciates you and understands what you have gone through. Don’t ever forget that you are special ... special to us and special to God.”
During the ceremony the American Flag was folded by veteran Geo Krauss who performs the ritual about 270 times every year at veterans’ funerals. The folded flag was then symbolically handed to a Vietnam Veteran.
“It is an honor to do this for the vets,” Krauss said.
Thomas Buono, who has attended the annual celebration many times in the past and is president of the VVA Utica Chapter 944, noticed an increase in the number of attendees this year. The increase in attendance included both a greater turnout from the Veterans’ Home residents as well as members of military organizations.
“It was an honor to be a part of it today, to be able to honor all of the veterans, especially the Vietnam veteran residents of the home,” said Buono. “We normally come down here every year for this, and today's was the largest crowd yet.”