COLUMBUS, Ohio — The National Veteran’s Memorial Museum in Columbus offered Vietnam War veterans, their families and community members a welcome home ceremony. 

What You Need To Know

  • The National Veteran's Memorial Museum in Columbus gave Vietnam War vets and their families a welcome home ceremony
  • Next month is the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon

  • The president of the National Veterans Memorial Museum said they're trying to right a wrong for how the veterans were treated when they came home

“It’s something that history can’t forget,” said Randy Holton, a Navy Veteran.

The ceremony is for veterans like Holton who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. 

“It’s a welcome home every time I see everybody here, it’s just welcome home,” Holton said.

The welcome home ceremony is aimed to honor the Vietnam veterans and give them the welcome home they deserve, something that Bill Butler, President of the National Veterans Memorial Museum, holds near and dear to his heart. 

“They were not the beneficiaries of nice welcome homes like my generation of veterans were," Butler said. "When I came home from my deployments from Iraq and Afghanistan, it was military bands and family members and signs, and the whole community came out."

Butler said when Vietnam Veterans came home, they were often vilified for their service. 

“We’re trying to right a wrong and do that for them and welcome them home,” Butler said.  

Speakers shared the importance of veterans having the services they need when they come home. 

“I know next month will be the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, and that may be an emotional event for some Vietnam Veterans, and that’s OK," Butler said. "Just talk about it and still be proud of your service."