Formal 'welcome home' for Vietnam veterans

Formal 'welcome home' for Vietnam veterans produces tears, gratitude
By: Ronald Ahrens
Posted: 7:04 p.m. March 21, 2010


Horace Frazier found himself wiping away tears Saturday night when he and dozens of other Vietnam veterans received a formal “welcome home” at Weber’s Inn.

The ceremony, attended by about 205 people, was arranged by the Erwin Prieskorn American Legion Post 46 of Ann Arbor as a way of honoring men and women of Washtenaw County who served in the long, unpopular war and returned to face many difficulties.


Frazier, senior vice president of VFW Post 423, said he was “really touched” by the evening’s speeches. He was particularly affected by the keynote address from William Henderson of Ypsilanti, a retired commander of the Michigan Air National Guard who flew 125 missions during the war.

When Henderson included some audience participation - asking people to share the names of the operations they participated in and the places of battle - Frazier thought about mentioning the valuable field training given in his United States Army artillery unit by Kentucky national guardsmen. That company ultimately sustained heavy losses.

“I wanted to get up, but I chickened out,” said the Ypsilanti resident, who drives a bus for the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

Part of the observance was Kenneth Rogge’s poignant reading of the names of all 77 service members from Washtenaw County who died in the war.

Rogge, vice president of Vietnam Veterans Post 310, also read a proclamation from Gov. Jennifer Granholm, declaring March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day in Michigan.
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Formal welcome home for Vietnam veterans