Keesler Airmen help salute Vietnam veterans

Keesler Airmen pose for a photo with Col. Glen Downing, 81st Training Group vice commander, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., at the Gulf Coast Vietnam Veterans Salute in Mobile Ala., March 31, 2012.Nearly 300 Keesler members attended the event to honor and engage with Vietnam-era veterans. (Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Steven Mullins)

Published April 4, 2012
By Senior Master Sgt. Steven Mullens
81st Training Wing career assistance advisor

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Approximately 300 Keesler Airmen went to Mobile Saturday to celebrate the Gulf Coast Vietnam Veterans Salute honoring Vietnam and Vietnam Era Veterans. The event honored Vietnam veterans who live along the Gulf Coast and gave younger generations the chance to meet the veterans, ask questions and learn about the Vietnam War. Senior Master Sgt. Phuoc Phan was the committee chair who organized the volunteer response from Keesler which included 20 additional Airmen who helped to prepare the grounds the day prior.

After Saturday's Honor Ride Parade, Airmen were able to join the Vietnam Veterans and their families for the opening ceremony, special activities and were also available including a free tour of Battleship Memorial Park. For more information about the park go to http://www.ussalabama.com/.

Each service set up and manned reunion tents which were decorated with service-specific memorabilia and provided message boards where veterans could post their contact information in hopes of reuniting with fellow Vietnam Veterans. Phan witnessed one such reunion.

"It was really great to be involved with the event, and to be able to personally thank the veterans for their service and for my freedom," Phan said, "The Air Force definitely had the strongest active duty presence and you could feel their pride as each member joined in to sing the Air Force Song during a musical tribute to each branch of service ... and I too was extremely proud to be a part of the event."