Four area soldiers honored at DUSA reception
Jim Conley, Bob Quintavalla, Gus Fishburne and Howard Hohlfeld were in the front row at Monday evening’s ‘Welcome Home’ reception for Vietnam-era soldiers. The four, as well as many other veterans, and their families, in the room, struggled to keep tears away as they were thanked and honored for their past military service.
DUSA, Daughters of the US Army, hosted the event, held at the American Legion Hall in Highland Falls. DUSA President Elizabeth Woodruff and Outreach Coordinator Amy Marson coordinated the event, and Marson’s husband, West Point Garrison Commander Col. Cecil Marson served as guest speaker.
The hall was packed. Much like at the morning’s Veterans Day ceremony in Highland Falls, there was a strong youth turnout — the O’Neill JROTC turned out en masse, as did members of the select choir to sing the National Anthem, and local Scouts were on hand.
American Legion commander John Flynn took part in the event as well. He thanked DUSA for not only the event, but also for all they do in and for the entire Town of Highlands, especially its veterans and children.
“This is unbelievable,” he said.
While Woodruff welcomed all there, Mrs. Marson spoke about why they decided to have it. She recounted encountering Fort Montgomery’s Jim and Marlene Conley at the Highland Falls 9/11 ceremony, and said his words about the non-welcome home that Vietnam era veterans received so long ago “went straight to my heart”.
“We’re so excited to be pairing with the American Legion tonight, and just join with the community in honoring the men and women sitting before me. It’s truly humbling,” she said. “Thank you for allowing us to honor you. It means a lot to us, and you deserve it.”
She thanked the veterans for “loving this nation enough to sacrifice everything for it”.
Mrs. Marson spoke about how these days veterans are welcomed home with banners and parades and discounts at restaurants to thank them for their service.
“It wasn’t like that for our Vietnam vets,” she said. “Things were just different, and truly, I’m sorry for that.”
She continued: “My hope is that tonight, in this very small way, we can offer you another welcome home, a proper welcome home. Welcome home, from your grateful community. We love you and appreciate you and what you did for our country.”
Mrs. Marson’s words were followed by those of her husband, who first presented each of the four Vietnam veterans with one of his coins as West Point’s Garrison Commander. The four men received a long standing ovation.
He then reiterated his wife’s words, thanking them for his service, and also speaking about his own father’s Vietnam experience.
“My father was in Vietnam in 68 and 69,” he said. “At home he was a coal miner. My grandpa was in World War II. My dad didn’t talk much about the war — he actually didn’t talk to me about war until I deployed the first time.”
Marson said his father was told to take his uniform off as soon as he landed in San Francisco after serving a year in Vietnam.
“Even in West Virginia, which is a pretty patriotic place, he couldn’t get car insurance, because he’d fought in Vietnam,” Marson recalled. “The good thing is, though, that my dad didn’t harbor any ill will. He loved the country, and pushed me to go into the military and to be patriotic.”
Marson told the veterans in the room to draw on the love and support of those in the room that night in the years ahead.
“It’s easy to be bitter and angry, that war was extremely tough,” he said. “I just want to tell you thank you. I wish it could have gone better, but thanks to you, you made sure it didn’t go that way for the rest of us. We owe you. We love you. We appreciate all that you have done for us.”
The evening concluded with cake and cookies, and many handshakes and hugs.
