Skip to main content

Rancho Cordova Independent

A 'Welcome Home' Event Celebrates Vietnam Veterans

Apr 18, 2016 12:00AM ● By By Patrick Groves

The City of Rancho Cordova honored about 100 Vietnam veterans at the April 4th city council meeting. Photo courtesy City of Rancho Cordova

The war in Vietnam was a nightmare for most, but its memory brought together veterans in the Rancho Cordova City Hall where they finally received the “welcome home” not extended to them during the conflict.

The City of Rancho Cordova honored about 100 Vietnam veterans at the April 4th city council meeting. The city became partners of the United States Vietnam War Commemoration program launched in 2008 by an act of Congress. The Commemoration has honored Vietnam veterans since 2012 and will continue until Veterans Day 2025. The Commemoration and its partners honor veterans who served between 1955 to 1975, the timeframe of the Vietnam War.

“It brought back a lot of emotions and I had a hard time keeping it together up there,” said Jerry Hayes, a United States Air Force veteran who served between 1969 and 1973.

Hayes, 64, said public sentiment toward veterans has changed greatly since his tour of duty. While he remained stateside during his service, he had run-ins with people against the war. Once during a seven hour flight layover he considered changing out of his uniform into civilian clothes to prevent being targeted.

“I couldn’t believe how people were jeering at us as we got off the plane,” he said.

He said his favorite memories from the war were his down time, like watching the sunset from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Wash, while he was stationed at McCord Field Air Force base.

“The pressure cooker of the war was enough to drive anyone insane,” he said.

The city currently has a two year partnership with the Commemoration, from 2015 to 2017. The partnership entails two events per year must be dedicated to Vietnam War veterans, said Stacy Delaney, an Air Force veteran in the city manager’s office.

“When Vietnam veterans returned from the war — in California or elsewhere — I think they did not receive the recognition they deserved,” Delaney said. “What we were hoping for with this event is to say ‘welcome home.’ ”

A little more than 3,000 Vietnam veterans live in Rancho Cordova, according to U.S. Census estimates. In Sacramento County there are a total of about 90,000 veterans including those who served during Vietnam, according to CalVet.

City Councilman Robert McGarvey, a former Vietnam serviceman himself, presented each veteran with a lapel pin designed by the Commemoration. The pin features an eagle representing courage, honor and dedicated service and other recognizable symbols on the front and the message “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You” on the back.

“I think the generation who didn’t really honor veterans and called them ‘baby killers’ kind of grew up,” McGarvey said. “I think when we had the Gulf War in ’91 people started paying more attention to veterans.”

McGarvey said he makes a point to represent the needs of veterans living in Rancho Cordova through his position on the city council. He served in the Air Force between 1965 and 1967.

“It takes a while to get these things done, but it’s worth it,” he said.

Marilyn “Sue” Mellow, 70, was another Air Force veteran honored at the meeting. Mellow said the ceremony made her proud to be a member of the Rancho Cordova community, where she has lived for the past 30 years.

“I thought it was an extremely nice gesture,” she said. “I’m very proud of that pin and on Memorial Day, Veterans Day and other special occasions I’ll be wearing it.”

Sacramento County Legal ads  Click on this image to learn more about placing legal ads in the Messenger Publishing Groups publications
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent - Memorial ads  Click on this image of a Peace Lily to learn more about placing a Memorial ad in the Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent  Arrest Records  Click on this image of Police Tape to read a listing of recent arrests in the Rancho Cordova Area
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent  Donated to support local journalism  Click on this image to donate to the Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent to keep local journalism alive
Sacramento - Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent  Make the Rest of your life the Best of your life Click on this image of a mature couple to find resources and articles for mature singles
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Click on this ad to find archives of past Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent  newspapers
Vote Republican in 2024
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent  Image of fresh food Click on this ad for KP International Market to go to their website
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Click on this ad for First US Community Credit Union to be taken to their website
Sacramento Rancho Cordova Click on this ad for Cogir of Stock Ranch Senior Living Facility to learn more about their services
Sacramento Rancho Cordova Click on this ad for Pinnacle Employee Services to learn more about their HR Payroll and Benefits services for businesses
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Click on this ad for American River Chiropractic to learn more about their Chiropractic Memberships
Sacramento Rancho Cordova Call 916-728-5812 to learn more about Superior Landscaping Services company
Sacramento Rancho Cordova Image of Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra Click on this ad to learn more about Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra schedule and buy tickets
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Image of Sacramento River Cats Baseball Team Click on this ad to learn more about River Cats Baseball schedule and to buy tickets
Sacramento  Rancho Cordova Image of Giant Hamburger and Milk shake  Click on the image to learn more about jaspers Giant  Burgers and to view a menu
Sacramento  Image of the Milky Way Click on this ad to learn more about the programs and events at Aero Space Museum of California and to buy tickets
Sacramento   Click on this ad to learn more about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation An organization helping disabled Veterans and Homeless veterans find housing and support
Upcoming Events Near You

No Events in the next 21 days.