On Memorial Day in 2012, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War that was in large part designed to set in motion a renewed focus on recognizing its veterans.
Since then, the move to honor Vietnam vets who were so often received with scorn immediately following their return to the states has steadily gained steam, and even the world’s leading retail firm is on board.
As part of its commitment to the movement, Walmart is finding ways of openly giving Vietnam veterans their due – a sentiment many feel is sorely overdue.
Last Wednesday morning, a ceremony took place at the Houston Walmart Supercenter in which a flag was raised displaying the official seal of commemoration to Vietnam vets. The event was orchestrated by an honor guard of Vietnam vets who are members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 473 in Cabool.
“Last Memorial Day, the president called on all veterans organizations and all communities to recognize the sacrifice made by our Vietnam veterans, and to in a way begin a reconciliation,” said former Post 473 Commander Stephen Box, of Elk Creek. “I went into service just as Vietnam was winding down, but I know a lot of the vets didn’t get the honor and respect that was due to them for serving in that war.
“I think it’s great that Walmart is doing this.”
When Houston Walmart manager Travis Rector received the flag, he turned to Box – a full-time employee at the store – to implement its ceremonial addition to the building’s flagpole.
“When it came in from corporate, the information said we could hang it,” Rector said. “Stephen said ‘if we can hang it, I’d really love that.’ I said ‘absolutely; I’m all about supporting our veterans.’”
Understanding the implications of what the flag represented, Box and company took their task seriously.
“When we had colors at zero-800 hours, we raised the flag along with the American flag,” Box said. “Travis called all the store employees who weren’t busy to the front, and there were also several customers watching. It was well attended.
“Like I said, I’m proud to work for an organization that’s giving those folks their due.”
On Veterans Day last November, a ceremony took place at the store in which an honor guard posted the Stars and Stripes and Obama’s proclamation (remembering the 58,000-plus soldiers who died in the lengthy Vietnam conflict, and the thousands more who served there) was read out loud at the front of the store.
“There were a lot of people standing around up front who were so overwhelmed they were crying,” Box said. “It was beautiful.
“We’ve had a lot of comments from people about this. We have a lot of veterans who come in here and shop, and many have been favorably impressed.”
Walmart now has its employee veterans display special tags on their name pendants, and the company is taking the idea of honoring veterans another step by in certain cases offering them special consideration in the hiring process. Through its “Welcome Home Veterans Commitment” program designed for veterans who have been honorably discharged within the last 12 months, Walmart has pledged to hire 100,000 vets in the next five years.
The blue Vietnam veterans commemoration flag will continue to fly above Walmart in Houston until Veterans Day (Nov. 11), when it will be ceremonially lowered and donated to VFW Post 473.
Detailed information about Walmart’s Welcome Home Veterans Commitment can be found online at http://walmartcareerswithamission.com/.
I went into service just as Vietnam was winding down, but I know a lot of the vets didn’t get the honor and respect that was due to them for serving in that war.”
Vietnam Commemoration objectives