CORVALLIS — The weight of a small lapel pin can carry decades of unspoken gratitude.
A group of 10 Vietnam War-era veterans gathered at Suburban Christian Church Tuesday morning in southwest Corvallis to receive special commemorative pins honoring their service. Among them were three Philomath residents whose stories reflect both the sacrifice of that generation and the complicated homecoming many faced.
The ceremony, organized by Corvallis resident Wayne King in partnership with the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration Committee, represented a long-overdue acknowledgment for many who served during one of America’s most divisive conflicts…