Among the crowds marching in the annual St. Bernard Parish Veterans Day Parade you’ll find countless stories of service. Like the story of five Vietnam veterans who became lifelong friends during the most turbulent of times; the Tet Offensive, a series of surprise attacks by the Vietcong in 1968.
“I served with these four people in 1967 to 1968 in Long Binh, Vietnam,” said Chaz Simone, who hails from Philadelphia. “Everybody just wanted to come back alive. I am not going to tell you no one was afraid. It’s a long time ago but those memories will last forever.”
Then there is the story of the dozens of St. Bernard Parish veterans who find comfort with their brothers in the arms.
“It’s just a great bunch of people,” said veteran Hilton Preau. “We all believe in the same things and it’s easy to talk within the veteran group.”
Different than other veterans, many Vietnam veterans won’t ever forget the pain of returning home from war.
“It was hell. I mean they (protesters) spit on you, threw eggs,” said Stanley Robinson, a Vietnam veteran. “They didn’t think nothing of you.”
Sunday was another kind of experience.
“It’s awesome, couldn’t be better,” said a Vietnam veteran named Richie.
Kids were everywhere at the parade Sunday. Some watched, some waved flags, others cheered but beyond the fun comes an opportunity to learn.
“They can learn about friendship. They can learn about overcoming odds and they can learn America is still strong,” said Lucino Martinez, a Vietnam veteran.
Certainly, a lesson to remember.
Paul Dudley can be reached at pdudley@wwltv.com.