Vietnam Veterans Gather At Capitol, Marking War’s 50th Anniversary

A group of veterans gathered at the state capitol today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Among them was Richard Lindbeck of the Wisconsin Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Lindbeck said when he and his brother first returned from Vietnam, they were told not to wear their uniforms in public.

“Now we wear our uniforms and we wear them proudly. And I’m proud to say I am a Vietnam Vet. I am happy to be a Vietnam Vet. There’s a bumper sticker out there that the Marine Corps has that says I was a Vietnam Vet before it was popular. And I agree with that. I was a Vietnam Vet long before it was popular.”

Lindbeck received a proclamation from Governor Scott Walker declaring today, “Vietnam Veterans Day” in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs says more than 165,000 Wisconsinites served in Vietnam.