Let’s Welcome Home Our Vietnam Veterans

vietnam

By: John MacDonald – June, 2016

Veterans Assisting Veterans (VAV) has decided that the welcome home for our Vietnam Veterans is long overdue. On Saturday, September 17, 2016, VAV has organized a concert in honor of our Vietnam Veterans to be held at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The VAV board of directors decided that there was a generation of veterans that needed to be welcomed home and the concert is going to be the place to do it.

It’s been well documented through the years as to how badly our Vietnam Veterans were treated when they arrived home after a brutal war. The Vietnam War and the tone of the country at the time produced one of the greatest stains on the fabric of America. Treating soldiers as if they were criminals, uniforms being spit on and just the general disrespect for the heroes that served at the time was awful.

Now VAV is looking to correct history, for at least one evening. A nice contingent of well-known musicians that played for many popular bands are coming together to honor our Vietnam Veterans. James Montgomery, John Cafferty (yes, the guy who sang for the soundtrack of the movie “Eddie and the Cruisers”), Danny Klein of the J. Geils Band, Jeff Howell of Foghat, a couple members of the band formerly known as Boston and many more have committed. In addition there will be a pre-concert ceremony to recognize our Vietnam Veterans that will include public officials that have gone above and beyond supporting our veteran community.
There will be many surprises in the evening, but again the focus will be on the people that deserve the recognition, which are the Vietnam Veterans in attendance. A group of VAV volunteers will be on hand to greet Vietnam Veterans with handshakes and hugs along and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be on hand to distribute special pins, honoring those who served in Vietnam.

VAV has a track record of donating too many worthy veterans, veteran’s causes and groups. In addition, VAV is 100% volunteer and has no overhead, so the money they raise will go directly to the people that deserve it. A large portion of the concert proceeds raised will go back directly to the many causes that VAV supports. Sponsorships are available for companies that are interested as well. The contact for sponsorships is VAV President, Dennis Moschella 781-316-4486. VAV’s mailing address is PO Box 274, Dracut, MA 01826 for those who just wanted to make a contribution.

Concert Tickets are also on sale either at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium box office or online at http://www.lowellauditorium.com .