FALL FESTIVAL 2018
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the Festival. The veterans check IDs at
the entrance to the tent where the live
bands entertain and noted that people
do drop more than the cover charge
into the jars when they realize that the
money all goes to the veterans' group.
The conflict the veterans of the
Vietnam War saw didn't end with their
return home during the late 1960s.
Many faced angry crowds, jeers and the
hostility of their fellowAmericans.
“The first thing I did was get out of
my uniform even though I was proud to
wear it,” veteran Rick Adis said. “I just
didn't want to take all the crap.”
Vietnam veteran Ron King of
Plymouth Township recalled an airline
gate agent in San Diego, California, sug-
gesting he change his clothes as his uni-
form could offend some people. “We
didn't get treatedwell,” he said.
They sat down with Vietnam veter-
ans Don Dignan of Livonia, a Dearborn
native, John Spencer who lives in
Canton and Bob Lamoureux, also of
Canton, to discuss their respective
returns home from Vietnam and atti-
tudes in the decades since then.
“I think that was the welcome
home,” Dignan said of the 1982 con-
struction start of the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial wall inWashington, D.C. King
noted the recent respectful reaction at
the Plymouth Fourth of July Parade,
including parade goers who stand to
showgratitude to veterans.
The men hold leadership roles in
both the Vietnam Veterans of America
(VVA) Chapter 528 as well as the
Veterans of Foreign Wars Mayflower Lt.
Gamble Post 6695, at 1426 S. Mill St. in
Plymouth. Returning veterans from
Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere are
encouraged to call (734) 459-6700 to
learn about membership and benefits
offered to veterans.
“That's therapeutic, people who
know what you're talking about. Who
better than another combat veteran?”
Dignan asked.
He recalled leaving Vietnam, “It was
the happiest day when I left there,” he
said.
Dignan said the post has a few
Korean veterans who are members. A
couple ofWorldWar II veterans remain,
and Persian Gulf service personnel
have joined in recent years, he added.
The post is reaching out to younger
veterans, and the men point with pride
to Iraq combat medics James Kendall
and Jessica Linna who have joined
recently
“I was in two years. That was
enough,” Lemoureux said of his
Vietnamservice.”Hewas in country for
See
Veterans,
page 14
The first thing I did
was get out
of my uniform
even though
I was proud to wear it.
”
