National Vietnam War Veterans Awareness Day in the USA
Devotions
by Patrick Brown
Published on March 29, 2023
Categories: Devotions

National Vietnam War Veterans Awareness Day in the USA

 National Vietnam War Veterans Day is celebrated on March 29th in the US and was recently made a recognized annual holiday in 2017 when it was signed into law by President Trump. March 29th is the day that the last of the troops were withdrawn in 1973.

 This is a separate holiday from Veterans Day which is celebrated on November 11th, that marks the end of the First World War.

 The war originally started as a civil war between North Vietnam and the South Vietnam Government. The North Vietnamese Army was supported by communist allies such as the Soviet Union and China and the South Vietnamese Army was supported by anti – communist Allies such as the US, Australia, and South Korea.

 Citizens are encouraged to fly the US flag in honor of those who served in the Vietnam war as a way to thank the veterans and all those who made sacrifices during one of the longest wars in US history lasting almost 20 years.

 Some may wonder why it took 44 years for the troops to be celebrated, but due to the huge number of casualties and domestic controversy a large part of the US population became opposed to the war.

 I served in Vietnam as a personnel Specialist. I tore my medial meniscus in my right knee and was operated on at Cam Ranh AFB hospital. While I was in the hospital for a week or two, there were about 30 beds full of soldiers with limbs missing and other multiple problems. During my time, throughout the stay, very few soldiers complained about their pain and problems. Most of them went home because they needed advanced healthcare.  I stayed as one of my jobs was to update casualty reports for the 35th Engineer group. I got to visit some of them and realize how bad they had it so I could make the reports accurate.

 What does it mean to lay down one’s life?

  • To give up one’s life for a good purpose: to die for a good cause. heroes who laid down their lives to preserve our nation.

 We need to remember all soldiers in all wars of their sacrifice. Thousands of Vietnam Vets never made it home.

 There is no GREATER LOVE than to lay down one’s life for others.  John 15:13

I Chose to Look the Other Way

I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.
It wasn’t that I didn’t care,
I had the time, and I was there.

But I didn’t want to seem a fool,
Or argue over a safety rule.
I knew he’d done the job before,
If I called it wrong, he might be sore.

The chances didn’t seem that bad,
I’ve done them the same, He knew I had.
So, I shook my head and walked on by,
He knew the risks as well as I.

He took the chance, I closed my eye,
And with that act, I let him die.
I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.

Now every time I see his wife,
I’ll know I should have saved his life.
That guilt is something I must bear,
But it isn’t something you need share.

If you see a risk that others take,
That puts their health or life at stake,
The question asked, or thing you say,
Could help them live another day.

If you see a risk and walk away,
Then hope you never have to say,
I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.

Author: Don Merrell, J.R. Simplot Company, Don Plant Training Center
This poem appeared in the May 2001 issue of AIHA’s magazine, The Synergist

 Lord, I thank you for loving me. Your death and resurrection on the cross were the ultimate sacrifice for me. God, help me to never take your love for granted. Help me to see your love as a motivator to lay down my life for you and those around me. (www.crosswalk.com)

 

Patrick Brown was born at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ on February 25th, 1949. He became a Christian Believer when he stepped off the plane in Vietnam in 1971. Since that time, he has devoted his life to the Lord through ministering as a Sunday School teacher in various churches in Mississippi. He is a graduate of Exploding Evangelism (EE) and certified as a Gospel Evangelist Trainer. Patrick is a member on staff at Christian Grandfather Magazine in charge of Daily Devotionals. He and his wife, Sherrilyn, enjoy retirement in Ridgeland, MS.

Photo by Kalen Emsley on Unsplash

2 Comments

  1. David

    Incredibly moving testimony. Thank you for reminding us of this heartbreaking time in our history.

    Reply
    • Patrick Brown

      You are welcome and thanks for the Comment.

      Reply

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