Elizabeth Larson – Record-Bee staff
LAKEPORT ? For many years, when it came to Memorial Day or Veterans Day remembrances, it often was World War II and Korean War veterans that were the most visible representations of the citizen soldier.
But the years are rapidly thinning the ranks of those veterans. At the same time, the next generation of warriors, those who fought in Vietnam, are taking a place of prominence in commemorating the sacrifices made by soldiers throughout the country”s history.
Such is the case for veterans activities at Lakeport”s Hartley Cemetery. Once overseen by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, last year the VFW invited the newly formed Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 951 to take over organizing the annual Avenue of Flags on Memorial Day, an invitation the VVA chapter quickly accepted.
This was their second year putting up Hartley”s Avenue of Flags, said Clearlake resident Dean Gotham, the local VVA”s president. While the younger vets ? along with local Boys Scouts and community members ? install the full-size flags that line the avenue, the VFW still take part, placing smaller flags on the grave of each person who fought in the country”s wars.
Those big flags, which came to life in a light breeze Monday morning, have a special significance, explained Gotham. “Each flag came from the casket of a veteran,” he said.
The flags, he said, are donated by family members for the Avenue of Flags.
Taking part in the Avenue of Flags ritual, as Gotham told a couple visiting the cemetery, “is a very important spiritual process.”
VVA members also have spent time replacing the avenue”s portable flag poles, digging new holes for the poles and other “maintenance,” said George Dorner, VVA Chapter 951”s vice president.
“We”re still upgrading,” Dorner said.
After the 8 a.m. avenue setup, Dorner and Gotham stayed on to help answer questions for cemetery visitors and prepare for the afternoon memorial service. The avenue was taken down for another year at 4 p.m.
Once upon a time, it wasn”t an easy matter for Dorner and Gotham to openly discuss their military service. Both of them ? much like so many other brothers and sisters in arms of their generation ? found themselves the target of abuse upon returning home from their tours of duty.
Gotham, a small, fit man who has spent his career as a professional gardener, served in the Third Marine Division from March of 1968 to May 1969. He was within four miles of Vietnam”s demilitarized zone, and saw fierce combat that left him with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Those with PTSD suffer a variety of symptoms, among them sleeplessness, depression, nightmares and flashbacks.
“There”s no way you can prepare for what you encounter in combat,” said Gotham. “It is chaos on a level you cannot explain.”
A San Francisco native, Gotham remembers returning home after the war. While riding a street car ? still wearing his uniform ? he was taunted by strangers for having served in Vietnam.
Dorner, who lives in Lucerne, had similar experiences after returning to the states.
A tall, humorous man, Dorner went to the war at the grand old age of 25, at a time when the average age of Vietnam soldiers was 19. An Air Force man, serving in an unofficial air command unit, Dorner spent 33 months in Southeast Asia ? 18 months near Luang Prahang in Laos ? between 1967 and 1971.
Dorner recalled being stared at and harassed by strangers when, a few decades ago, he was bold enough to sport a “Proud to be a Vietnam Veteran” bumper sticker before the country reexamined its treatment of that war”s soldiers. He likes to point out that Confederate soldiers received better treatment after the Civil War than Vietnam vets got upon returning home.
Today he is a novelist, and is writing a sequel to a book he wrote about his Vietnam experiences. Writing has proven an exhilarating and cathartic experience for him.
Gotham believes that the United States began to treat its veterans ? particularly those who served in Vietnam ? differently in the late 1980s, shortly before the first Gulf War.
“America has changed in that it doesn”t hold the war against the soldiers,” he said.
Today, the VVA is hoping to welcome younger veterans from the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan into the traditions of commemorating the soldiers who have served the country. The group”s members also are dedicated to helping the younger generation of soldiers feel valued and connected, Gotham said.
“We”re only going to be here a little bit longer ourselves, frankly,” said Gotham.
Gotham said this year the local VVA chapter took part for the first time in Lakeport”s Memorial Day Parade, an experience Gotham called “wonderful.”
Not only are Vietnam vets taking their rightful place amongst the country”s soldier heroes, they”re also hearing ? at long last ? words of thanks from their neighbors.
Such was the case at the weekend parade, Gotham said.
After so much time, he said, it was good to finally be applauded, and welcomed home.
Contact Elizabeth Larson at elarson@record-bee.com.
