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Vietnam-era vets recognized at ceremony in Cumming
vets
Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, above, greets retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Carroll Stanton on Monday night after the officer was presented with a Vietnam War Certificate of Honor during a ceremony at the Georgia Army National Guard Readiness Center. Cumming American Legion Post 307 awarded pins and certificates of honor to at least 86 Vietnam-era veterans at the event, which was part of a statewide initiative to honor every one of Georgias 234,000 veterans of the war. - photo by Kayla Robins

Contact

For more information on the Vietnam War Certificate of Honor program or to apply for a certificate, contact Brian Zeringue at bzeringue@vs.state.ga.us or call (404) 463-3080.

CUMMING — Forsyth County, Georgia and even the South don’t hesitate to thank veterans for their service through ceremonies and on an informal on-the-street basis.

But a group of veterans from a war associated with scrutiny and controversy often feels their service was thankless. The state of Georgia is trying to change that sentiment.

Cumming American Legion Post 307 awarded pins and certificates of honor to at least 86 Vietnam-era veterans Monday evening at the Georgia Army National Guard Readiness Center. The event was part of a statewide initiative to honor every one of Georgia’s 234,000 veterans of the war.

To accomplish the goal, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service and Gov. Nathan Deal created the Vietnam War Certificate of Honor program, where the state has been attending official ceremonies in partnership with local veteran and civic clubs.

“It’s long overdue, but they should be recognized for that honor for which they are heroes of our country,” said Mike Roby, who heads the department.

Every Georgia veteran with honorable service during the Vietnam War is eligible to receive the certificate, including those who served in country as well as in other capacities and places.

Each veteran received a personalized certificate with his name, rank, branch of service and dates of service printed over the Seal of the State of Georgia.

They were each congratulated by District 27 state Sen. Michael Williams of Forsyth County, Roby and a number of local officials.

Roby, a retired sergeant major, served in the U.S. Army from 1971-94 in Germany, Korea, Fort McPherson and at the Department of Army Headquarters in Alexandria, Va.

His father is a retired Army sergeant major and Vietnam veteran who also served in Germany, Korea and South America. Between Roby, his father and three brothers, the family spent 107 years in uniform.

“They were putting their lives on the line for our country, and in return your Vietnam veterans were never given a simple acknowledgement for your military service,” Roby said to those being honored at the ceremony. “You were ignored, forgotten and sometimes even ridiculed.

“We can never forget those who served before, and this is a correcting of a wrong. To each of you today, welcome home.”

The program was initiated in March 2015, and the state has since handed about 10,000 veterans certificates, according to Brian Zeringue, projects manager for the department.