We are only a few weeks away from restarting our bi-weekly breakfasts on April 6. Same times as last year, 7:30 to 9, with the usual wide variety of delicious choices. While prices for everything is going up, we are holding to the same donation recommendations as last year, $15 for adults and just $5 for kids under 11. We will continue to have the “rolling presentations” on the big TV screens around the Hall. If you have a message you want to “advertise,” we can add it to the presentation. For commercial advertising, the cost is just $100 and you can change the advertising as often as you want.If you are a community non-profit and want to advertiseup-coming event(s), we can place that into the rolling presentation at no cost as a “public service.” Contact the Hall at 633-4487 or Dave Patch at 751-5672 or dapatch66@gmail.com if you would like to advertise or have a message on the Big Screen. 

Saturday, March 29 is National Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day honoring all veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location. It was on March 29 that the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam.  As I look back at the early 60s, I, like most other veterans who signed up to serve this country, was only 18 years old.  As most of us now are in our late 70s or 80s, hard to think about how we felt back then. Butjust think, a loaf for bread was 21 cents, gas was 30 cents/gal., milk was $1.06, a stamp 5 cents and it cost 10 cents to make a local call. For those joining early in the 60s, what was happening in Vietnam wasn’t in the news much. What was in the news was the civil rights marches, assassination of President Kennedy, nuclear war stand-off with the Soviet Union over nuclear missiles in Cuba, and a civil war in the Dominican Republic when the U.S. sent the 82nd Airborne to protect U.S. interest. The world was unstable and unpredictable. Yet, we left the safety of home and friends to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” As we look back to those times, we remember them as an 18, or slightly older, kid.  Memories good and difficult.  Perhaps like me, you miss the comradery of our brothers in arms. Pretty sure you don’t miss the other stuff. I do know I am proud of all that served, whether you were fortunate not to have been called to combat or served in theater. To all, Welcome Home! 

The annual Vietnam Veteran Recognition Ceremony at the Capital in the Hall of Flags is on Friday, March 28 at 1 p.m.