YANKTON, South Dakota (KCAU) — Roughly two dozen Vietnam veterans from around Yankton, South Dakota were honored Friday with a pin ceremony.
South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds awarded veterans with a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin and shook their hands to thank them for their service. The lapel pin is a lasting memento of the nation’s thanks for those who fought and served in Vietnam.
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Many Vietnam veterans never received a welcome home after the war ended, and one veteran, Gary Mechtenberg, said he appreciated the senator for the welcome and the award.
“I’m very appreciative of Senator Rounds and his staff of putting together this mighty fine award Vietnam era pin,” he said, “and very honored to receive it.”
“It’s an honor we have to be able to listen to them,” Senator Rounds said, “to be able to make one more time to have an opportunity to literally let them know that we have appreciated what they’ve done. And for those who perhaps never come to grips with how they were treated when they came home, to let them know that there are people out there that really do care.”