Lower Cape Fear LifeCare hosts ‘Welcome Home Dinner’ for Vietnam Vets
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Lower Cape Fear LifeCare hosted a “Welcome Home Dinner” on Thursday night at Brunswick Community College to honor Vietnam veterans for their service and sacrifice.
The event aimed to provide a long-overdue recognition to the veterans, many of whom did not receive a proper “welcome home” when they returned from overseas. Lower Cape Fear LifeCare organized the dinner to express appreciation for the veterans’ dedication and commitment to the country.
Nick Micale, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Air Force, is a member of the “Blue Boys,” a volunteer group within Lower Cape Fear LifeCare dedicated to honoring the service of veterans who are patients with the organization through pinning ceremonies.
Reflecting on the past, Micale noted the lack of acknowledgment Vietnam veterans received upon their return.
“Not that you forget it, but you just lived with it,” he said. “Nobody would ever ask, ‘hey, how was it? what’d you do?’ You know, you just fell back into society. We all went on with our lives. I think many of us now, 50 years later, are starting to realize that and what we did because we weren’t welcomed home say, like other veterans. And that’s okay! We accept it. We moved on and here we are today.”
Micale says gatherings like the “Welcome Home Dinner” are important for veterans to get together and share experiences with one another.
The “Welcome Home Dinner” served as a poignant reminder of the importance of honoring and acknowledging the sacrifices made by veterans, especially those who have long awaited recognition for their service.
