Welcome Home

A common greeting among Vietnam War veterans is “welcome home.” Our use of this expression is rooted in the homecoming we never received upon returning from service during a war many Americans wanted to forget.

For the most part, our country seems to have learned from the shabby treatment given to veterans of my generations. The 1980s saw some belated welcomes. Years later, Gulf War veterans were celebrated with ticker-tape parades. Today, antiwar activists are careful to say they oppose policies, not those serving in uniform.

When it comes to post-9/11 veterans, The American Legion knows we have to offer more than welcoming words. We fully embrace this “multi-generation” of warriors as patriots whose talent, service and character equal to that of any group of veterans who proceeded them. Who better than us to advocate for employment, education and health care they have earned? They should have no doubt they’ll find brotherhood and sisterhood in The American Legion.

One of the most significant features of the 2019 LEGION Act is that it consolidated war eras. All who served honorably since December 7, 1941, can become Legionnaires. It codified what we have always believed: “A veteran is a veteran.”

I am not naive. I recognize that an Iraq War veteran might talk a little different than someone who served in Korea or Vietnam. A Beirut veteran probably has different interests than someone who left the Navy yesterday. But certainly more unites us than divides us.

As we near the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I ask all Legionnaire to continue to roll out the red carpet to the millions of men and women who deployed during the two-decade war on terrorism. Host events that cater to their interests. Include them in your Buddy Checks. Assist them in accessing veterans benefits, programs and services.

As Legionnaires, lets renew our pledge to “preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars…”

“All” means all.—James W. “Bill” Oxford, publisher of The American Legion Magazine