By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–A large crowd was on hand for the Vietnam War Veterans’ commemoration Tuesday at the Henry County Courthouse, as the gathering keeps growing each year.
The speaker was Decorated Vietnam War Veteran Dr. Buddy Gardner, who was a veterinarian in Paris for 42 years. Dr. Gardner has quite distinguished record of military service. He achieved the rank of Army Captain, was a pilot and flew with the 219th Aviation Co. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with a Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal.
He said, “I love seeing this many veterans with their families and spouses here. As I look out at everyone, it occurs to me that we now are the elder veterans remaining to tell our stories. You won’t see many WWII veterans speaking now. Let’s support each other.”
The gathering was held, he said, “to honor you and the 50,000 veterans (who were casualties in the war) and the 22 names right here” on the War Memorial on the courthouse lawn. “I hope we never go into a conflict with our hands tied behind our backs again.”
March 29 of each year is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Rev. Larry Simmons of Paris provided the invocation, noting that 50 years ago today the last combat troops left Vietnam. “We have to always remember and never forget”, he said.
Henry County Veterans’ Services Director Jon Bolding encouraged everyone to visit the Military Hall at the County Archives on Grove Blvd. He noted there are more than 1,000 veterans included in the local memorial and he encouraged veterans and their families to contact the Archives to be included.
Photo: Dr. Buddy Gardner was speaker at Tuesday’s commemoration. Shannon McFarlin photo.