TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Leon County Commissioners honored some of their own. On Mar. 30 they held a ceremony and breakfast for local Vietnam War Veterans.
They called it “Welcome Home Veterans” in remembrance of soldiers being called home from Vietnam forty years ago. It was from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and included a ceremony led by Chairman Nick Maddox.
“I want to take the opportunity today to tell them that we honor them and that we love them," Maddox said.
The “Operation Thank You” event aims to highlight the importance of supporting local armed forces members, veterans and their families. Over 400 community members attended, and over 150 veterans were honored with a Welcome Home commemorative coin.
John Kraft served as a naval officer in Vietnam in 1970.
"We're all band of brothers so to speak,” said Kraft. “We're Vietnam Vets and we all just feel very, very fortunate to be here, because every one of us has lost many dear friends years ago and we think about them on Veteran's Day and Memorial Day and of course a lot of us are thinking about them today."
Kraft says the ceremony and breakfast made him truly feel honored to have served the country.
“It's just nice to feel like what we did and those we lost that there's a sense of gratitude and this was very special today," he said.
After the ceremony, breakfast was served and cleaned up by county commissioners.
To learn more about Operation Thank You, visit their website at www.LeonCountyFL.gov/OperationThankYou.
