This past Sunday I had the pleasure of being included in a Lehigh Valley Veterans trip to Washington, DC. The annual trip was organized by Mike Sewards, President of the Lehigh Valley Veterans History Project, and was free for veterans of all wars and military branches.
Almost 60 of us, veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, along with a few wives, met at 7 am in the parking lot of the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA. Every branch was represented: Army, Navy Air Force, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard. Prior to boarding a very comfortable tour bus, we were greeted by members of the Patriot Guard Riders, and were led by a motorcycle escort from the Sands to the nearby highway.
After our 4-hour trip, during which Mike provided soft drinks, water, and snacks, we arrived at the Iwo Jima memorial, the first of 4 we were scheduled to visit. Lunch was hoagies, chips and drinks, and each of us received a sweat shirt from the Veterans History Project. At the WWII memorial, we were greeted by Vice Admiral Luke McCollum, Chief of Navy Reserve, who gave a little speech, posed with the men for pictures, and participated in our Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Pennsylvania pillar of the memorial. The ceremony ended with the playing of Taps by one of our veterans, and again at the Korea and Vietnam memorials.
The trip ended where it began, at the Sands bus parking lot, but our day was not yet finished. We were led through the casino by a Sands representative to Buddy V’s Ristorante, where tables and waitresses were waiting for us. Following a choice of red or white wine, with refills, we were served a variety of appetizers, pasta dishes, chicken parmesan, desert, and coffee, all compliments of the Sands.
For many years, veterans were pretty much ignored by the general public, except for a few national holidays, like Veterans Day and Memorial Day. And those who served during the Vietnam War were looked upon as criminals. Since 9/11, however, the general attitude changed in a very positive way, even for us Vietnam vets. Many people, when they are aware I am a Vietnam Veteran, come up to me, shake my hand, and thank me for my service. Even though it’s decades late, it still makes me feel good. But the treatment we received by Mike and the Sands Casino went well beyond just making me feel good.
SO MY DEEPEST THANKS GO OUT TO MIKE SEWARDS, THE LEHIGH VALLEY HISTORY PROJECT, AND THE SANDS CASINO RESORT FOR A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!
Almost 60 of us, veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, along with a few wives, met at 7 am in the parking lot of the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA. Every branch was represented: Army, Navy Air Force, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard. Prior to boarding a very comfortable tour bus, we were greeted by members of the Patriot Guard Riders, and were led by a motorcycle escort from the Sands to the nearby highway.
After our 4-hour trip, during which Mike provided soft drinks, water, and snacks, we arrived at the Iwo Jima memorial, the first of 4 we were scheduled to visit. Lunch was hoagies, chips and drinks, and each of us received a sweat shirt from the Veterans History Project. At the WWII memorial, we were greeted by Vice Admiral Luke McCollum, Chief of Navy Reserve, who gave a little speech, posed with the men for pictures, and participated in our Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Pennsylvania pillar of the memorial. The ceremony ended with the playing of Taps by one of our veterans, and again at the Korea and Vietnam memorials.
The trip ended where it began, at the Sands bus parking lot, but our day was not yet finished. We were led through the casino by a Sands representative to Buddy V’s Ristorante, where tables and waitresses were waiting for us. Following a choice of red or white wine, with refills, we were served a variety of appetizers, pasta dishes, chicken parmesan, desert, and coffee, all compliments of the Sands.
For many years, veterans were pretty much ignored by the general public, except for a few national holidays, like Veterans Day and Memorial Day. And those who served during the Vietnam War were looked upon as criminals. Since 9/11, however, the general attitude changed in a very positive way, even for us Vietnam vets. Many people, when they are aware I am a Vietnam Veteran, come up to me, shake my hand, and thank me for my service. Even though it’s decades late, it still makes me feel good. But the treatment we received by Mike and the Sands Casino went well beyond just making me feel good.
SO MY DEEPEST THANKS GO OUT TO MIKE SEWARDS, THE LEHIGH VALLEY HISTORY PROJECT, AND THE SANDS CASINO RESORT FOR A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!