Photo By Bryan Spann | Service members rehearse before the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Ceremony. Gilchrist...... read more read more
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. — Gilchrist Cares, Inc. hosted its 7th Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration on March 30 at Martin’s West in Baltimore, bringing together veterans, active-duty military members, and supporters to honor those who served during the Vietnam War.
“At Gilchrist, we are committed to ensuring Vietnam veterans receive the gratitude and respect they deserve,” said Diane Sancilio, director of counseling and support at Gilchrist.
“Our annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration creates a space where a grateful community comes together to honor, thank, and support the healing of our Vietnam veterans. We know that through community, we heal.”
The commemoration marks the day former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed his first bill into law, officially designating March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in the state.
“For too long, our Vietnam veterans returned home without the recognition or appreciation they deserved,” Hogan said. “Over the past decade, this day has helped change that—giving thousands of Maryland veterans the welcome home they never received and the gratitude they have always earned.”
The event, attended by 785 people, including 75 active military members, including Col. Yolanda Gore, Fort George G. Meade Garrison Commander, and her husband, Lt. Col. Michael Gore.
Fort Meade Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Moore led four salutes as part of the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Ceremony, a tribute acknowledging the service of Vietnam veterans.
“Today we showed honor to service members who enabled our great country to remain the land of the free because of the brave,” Moore said. “As members of the greatest fighting force the globe has ever seen, it is our honor and privilege to participate in the Vietnam Welcome Home celebration to ensure those who fell victim to political indifference receive the hero recognition they fully deserve.”
The keynote speaker, retired U.S. Navy Captain J. Charles (Charlie) Plumb, shared his journey as a jet fighter pilot, his six years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and how his experiences shaped his perspective on resilience and overcoming adversity.
Plumb’s presentation, "Who Packs Your Parachute," emphasized the importance of teamwork and appreciation for those who support others.
During his captivity, Plumb distinguished himself among fellow prisoners by maintaining underground communications and serving as camp chaplain for two years.
The event holds deep significance, given the historical context of the Vietnam War and the difficult homecoming experiences many veterans faced upon their return.
Gilchrist, Maryland’s leading nonprofit provider of serious illness and end-of-life care, offers geriatric, palliative, hospice, and grief care services. Its life-enrichment programs ensure patients experience the best possible quality of life, helping them live each moment to the fullest.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2025 15:28 |
| Story ID: | 494514 |
| Location: | MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 7th Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration Honors Service and Sacrifice, by Monique McFadden, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
