Gilchrist's Fifth annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration is a day to honor and thank the men and women in our community who served during the Vietnam War. Gilchrist is a nationally recognized nonprofit that provides care and support for people with serious illness through the end of life, through elder medical care, counseling and support, and hospice care. Many of the people we care for at Gilchrist are veterans, and many of them served during the Vietnam era.
One of the most painful chapters in our nation's history was the treatment of our Vietnam veterans and Vietnam-era veterans when they returned home. Gilchrist is committed to making things right and giving a long overdue and joyous welcome home to Vietnam veterans everywhere. On March 25, 2023 we will come together as a grateful community to honor, thank and celebrate the veterans in our care as well as all of the veterans who served during the Vietnam War and their loved ones. This celebration is one of the many ways Gilchrist recognizes the unique needs of these veterans and thanks them for their sacrifice and service to our country.
Event Details:
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Resource Fair
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Buffet Breakfast
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Program
Ceremony Hosts: Senator/Colonel John C. Astle, UMC (Ret.) and Colonel George Forrest, USA (Ret.)
Key Note Speaker: Rocky Bleier USA, Vietnam Veteran , Four Time Super Bowl Champion
Salute: Command Sergeant Major Andre L. Welch, USA, of Fort George G. Meade, with the military personnel from Fort George G. Meade, Marine Barracks, Joint Base Andrews, Coast Guard, Towson/Loyola University, Young Marines.
Rocky Bleier
Rocky Bleier attended and played football at Notre Dame University. Drafted in the 16th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1968 NFL draft, he had played just 10 games when he was drafted by the Army. Bleier served with the 4th/31st of the 196th LIB of the American Division. In August 1969, he was seriously wounded in Heip Duc when his platoon was ambushed, receiving wounds from rifle fire and grenade fragments to his legs. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He returned to the Steelers in 1971 where he played in four Super Bowl victories. Bleier was the only active NFL player who saw action in Vietnam.
Thank you to the members of Gilchrist's
We Honor Veterans Task Force
Virgil Wright, USMC
Chair, Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration
William Hill, USA
Vice-Chair, Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration
Brian Alexander, USN Lance Bendann USN Patricia Bridge USAF Sherman Canapp, USAF Nelson Cascio Clarence "Tiger" Davis, USAF Tom Glenn Chris Gonzalez USMC Art Grau, USA Ron Harman, USA Dean Henderson, USN Linda Henderson William Hill, USA Paul Jarboe, USA Dick Johnson, USMC Royce Jones, USA Bruce Kahl, USA Ed Kaplan, USA Ken Knutson USCG Don Kyle, USA Mike Lachance, USA | John Lazarou Barry Meuse, USA Jesse Mixson USA Jenny Murray Donnell Nelson,USA Ed Nolley, USA Dennis Parker, USAF Nick Prevas, USA Billy Pulket USA Tim Price, USA Tom Purdy, USA Tim Ruland, USA Trish Rosenfield James Sandoz, USMC Mary Somers Paul Sullivan, USMC Rick Sullivan, USMC Rick Uhlig USN Tim Wainscott USMC Susan Walker Christine White |
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