First Row (left to right): Victor Alvarado, Susan Brooks, Linda Hedrick, Barbara Mammen, Frank McLeod, Jeff Wilson, Mel Pender, Jim Farley, Ron Smith. Second Row: Larry Adams (son) & Lucille Adams (wife), receiving on behalf of Robert L. Adams who passed on 07/24/15. Wade Lnenicka, Tom Brewer, Senator Hunter Hill, Vern Colton, Andrew Burdette, Ken Turner, Frank Powaski, Paul Heffner, Vern Burgess. Third Row: August Franchini, Jr., Jimmy Kalb, Sherman Bruce, Fred Daniels (GA Dept Veterans Services), Commander Nathan Blair, Dennis Barlow, Hugh Ragan, John Copeland, Joe Bland, Past Commander Harold Watkins, Seamus Jim Stanley.
American Legion Post 160, Smyrna GA, held its first Vietnam Certificate of Honor Ceremony on Tuesday, September 15th. Senator Hunter Hill, a Post member, and Fred Daniels from the Georgia Department of Veterans Services, awarded the certificate packets and Vietnam Veteran eagle lapel pins from "A grateful nation...thanks and honors you ...Vietnam War Commemoration" to each recipient. Commander Nathan Blair greeted all recipients and "Doc" Barber, Senior-Vice Commander, served as Master of Ceremonies.
Each packet included a Proclamation Saluting Georgia's Vietnam Veterans from Governor Nathan Deal, a Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War by President Barack Obama, a fact sheet on the symbolism of the Vietnam Veteran lapel pin, statics on the Vietnam War, a map of Vietnam, and the actual "Certificate of Honor" signed by Governor Nathan Deal and Mike Roby, the Commissioner of Veterans Services for the State of Georgia.
The proclamation marks the state's official partnership with the Department of Defense 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War. Georgia joins the nation in turning back the pages of history and righting a wrong that should not have occurred many years ago. If you were contacted by Tom Brewer and missed the ceremony, we have your packet at the Legion.
Each state will be awarding this Certificate to all who served during the Vietnam Era from June 1, 1954 to May 15, 1975. You did not have to be in Vietnam — you just had to be in the military on active duty during this period and be discharged under Honorable Conditions.
