Community News

Marietta ceremony pays tribute to Vietnam veterans

MARIETTA -- Marietta College hosted Washington County Veterans Services's Vietnam Veterans' Welcome Home Ceremony Friday afternoon from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Dyson-Baudo Recreation Center.

The first hour of the ceremony was spent as a social hour for guests to convene, eat food, listen to a local band and talk with local businesses.

The WCVS had, what Executive Director Robert Fitzgerald referred to as, community partners from many different sides of the community. Fitzgerald noted they had public transportation, veterans associations, suicide awareness groups, Veterans Association Healthcare Center, and more.

One of the booths was that of the keynote speakers, Jason Nulton and Eva Nguyen Whitfield, who co-authored a non-fiction story about the Vietnam War called Uncommon Cargo. The book tells the story of Nguyen Whitfield's father and family as they make their way out of a war torn Vietnam.

Nguyen Whitfield's father piloted one of the last planes out of Vietnam to get him and his family out before the opposition took over. Unfortunately, the plane faced heavy fire, and while Nguyen Whitfield and the rest of her family made it out her father did not.

Nguyen Whitfield noted it took 10 years from start to finish to complete the book as well as multiple interviews with her family.

Nulton noted he and Nguyen Whitfield lead her family through four or five group interviews.

"It was a very therapeutic process," said Nguyen Whitfield.

"I was very concerned with getting it right," added Nulton.

Nulton noted his main goal was to portray the family correctly and accurately, and, according to Nulton, the most accurate portrayal was of the father.

After the social hour, the ceremony started. Fitzgerald said he expected to honor the veterans in attendance by giving them a moment to go up to a microphone and state their branch and time of service.

Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com