Page 54 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 54 Late Spring 2025

Welcome Home
by Beverly Churchill

VIETNAM WAR

VETERANS

Luncheon

t was April 5th 2025. They filed in opening a time-capsule. The fresh air The fall of Saigon. The last of our
Ihalf expecting to recognize a famil- rushing in and bringing it all back to American hero’s walking, loading the
iar face from so long ago. Giving their life. They were home. wounded, taking as many locals out of
names at the desk, a name tag that harms way as possible. The chaos, the
didn’t seem to want to stick, falling Slowly filling the seats, they began a pain, the fear of being left behind. If
to the floor. No need. They recog- conversation with the others across you’re a veteran, you’ll remember the
nized each other like families would the table. So easy, so familiar. Remem- most famous photo taken. The helo
at any 50th reunion. With or without bering as if it were yesterday. Now the perched on a roof-top, a ladder laden
a name, they were brothers, Veterans celebration was about to begin, begin- with scores of South Vietnamese ref-
of the Vietnam War. The atmosphere ning with the “end”. ugees climbing over one another to
in the room suddenly changed. This Fifty years ago, it too was a day like no be one of the lucky to get onboard. So
was no ordinary banquet. It was like other. close to freedom.

54 WALLINGFORD MAGAZINE - LATE SPRING 2025