HAVERHILL — Rain nudged the city’s Vietnam Veterans Day recognition event on Friday under a giant tent, which kept a crowd of more than 70 people dry.
Among the half-dozen Vietnam War veterans attending the event was Albert Pettingill of Bradford, who said rain wasn’t going to stop him and his wife of 59 years, Sally Pettingill, from participating.
Prior to the start of the ceremonies, Albert Pettingill, a graduate of the Haverhill Trade School who served 20 years in the Army, said he entered the military out of Norwich University’s ROTC program in 1964 and during his first assignment he was in charge of high-frequency communications.
“I served seven months on that tour then I returned to Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and during the Tet offensive as a communications officer for an infantry battalion at a fire base,” he said. “With two weeks to go in county I got bitten by a mosquito and was hospitalized with the worst type of malaria.”
Pettingill said the early 1970s were not a good time for Vietnam Veterans in America, but that things have changed.
“People today understand and the feelings toward veterans are very warm,” he said.
“It’s not a beautiful day but it’s a great day to honor our Vietnam veterans and their families,” said City Councilor Tom Sullivan, who served as the event’s emcee.
In her address to the crowd, Mayor Melinda Barrett said the reason the country celebrates Vietnam Veterans Day is because March 29, 1973, was the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam.
State Sen. Barry Finegold told the crowd he is honored to be part of a legislative body that honors the nation’s veterans and service members.
“We filed legislation to establish a commission on PTSD so that we may advance research, improve treatment and further awareness of the illness,” he said. “We’re also proud to cosponsor legislation that will grant property exemptions statewide for disabled veterans. We’re also proud to introduce the Votes Act, which passed last session, which among other things establishes a streamlined absentee voting process for Massachusetts residents who are serving in our armed forces overseas.”
Finegold added that there’s a cost to freedom.
“Today we get this beautiful society because of all your dedication and sacrifices,” he said.
Bill Kelly, executive director of Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill, said a generation that was once ignored needs our help the most.
“Ironically, right now, there have never been more benefits and more services available to all veterans, but the Vietnam veterans I know find services hard to access, computer portals that are frustrating to use, and they retain a poor perception of the VA for the way they were treated back then that they no longer try to apply for the very benefits they earned through their service and sacrifices long ago.”
“Veteran food scarcity is on the rise,” he added, while outlining some of the food support services his agency provides. “We’re finding more and more Vietnam War veterans are in need of support these days.”
Stephanie Carpenito sang the National Anthem and trumpeter Neil Flewelling performed several patriotic songs.
Linda Gambino Baxter had the honor of reading off the names of Haverhill’s 13 men who were killed in the Vietnam War, including her brother. Their names are listed on a bronze plaque that is part of the Vietnam War Memorial in Mill Brook Park. They are: PFC Ralph T. Basiliere; Sgt. Willard R. Ryan; PFC Arthur P. Williams; SFC James N. Finn; Lance Cpl. Richard O. Demaris; First Lt. Robert P. Schena; Staff Sgt. William L. Bonnell; PFC John C. Peel, Spec. 4 Barry S. Kyle; Cpl. Frederick G. Derocher; PFC Michael J. Gambino; WO William J. Cahill and Cpl. Gregory C. Davis.
Coffee, doughnuts and assorted pastries were provided by Patrick Driscoll of Driscoll Funeral Home in Bradford.