Craig Daily Press

Craig — The Moffat CVSO office will be closed Friday, June 20 through Thursday, June 26 while I am attending my ship reunion out of state. The availability for rides to Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Grand Junction will be very limited and will need to be arranged before I leave the office today at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. There is still no regular driver and I have limited volunteer drivers to pull from and then schedule around their other activities.

Tet Offensive victory celebration

Today, June 18, 2008, is the 40-year anniversary of a large surrender of Viet Cong to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. It signaled the end of major hostilities of the Tet Offensive (general offensive/general uprising). Conceivably, this was the practical end of Offensive, with the Allied forces (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, South Vietnam, Philippines and the United States) winning a decisive tactical victory.

The political turmoil within the United States has obscured the military victory of the Allied forces to repel the sudden, massive attack. However, the Allied soldiers who fought for their lives, their families and loved ones have not forgotten.

The families who lost their grandchildren, sons and daughters, spouses, friends and neighbors have not forgotten that conflict. All soldiers of the Vietnam-era contributed to the success, along with their personal support systems. Service organizations, churches, families, loved ones and neighbors have carried the burden of ministering to these soldiers.

This community of veterans and their support will be referred to as the Vietnam Veteran Community. It seems appropriate to pause and celebrate at this 40-year anniversary. We want to celebrate the sacrifices the Allied forces and American citizens paid for a reactive victory against an enemy intent on massacring each one.

It seems time to recognize those who gave their lives, the survivors and their families. It is time to recognize many others lost loved ones, friends and neighbors to the aftermath of the conflict in the form of disabilities, post traumatic stress disorder and loss of innocence.

These supporters need to be recognized for their service to our country.

In order to recognize the service of the Vietnam Veteran Community and to honor what they accomplished, a celebration is being planned.

Faith Bible Chapel, 62nd and Ward Road, Arvada, is planning a five-day celebration. In service to the Vietnam veteran community in the area, Faith Bible Chapel is contracting with Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to host the “The Wall That Heals” at their property from Thursday through Sunday. Tonight, there will be a special evening service focusing on Vietnam including guest Vietnamese speaker Dr. Paul Ai, missionary.

Following the service there will be a reception and a vesper service at “The Wall That Heals.”

For information and for tracking of the development of this celebration, please contact Faith Bible Chapel, 12189 W. 64th Ave., Arvada 80004 (mailing address). The contact person is Rodney Ginn, Executive Assistant to Pastor George Morrison. His e-mail is rod.ginn@fbci.org.

His telephone number is (303) 424-2121, extension 92109, and the fax number is (303) 423-4314.

Source: Faith Bible Chapel Fact Sheet

Vet newsletter

There will not be a vet article next week.

For information on these programs and/or other veterans’ benefits, call or stop in the Moffat County VSO office at 480 Barclay St. (west of the Bank of Colorado parking lot). Call (970) 824-3246 or use the fax (970) 824-7108. Our e-mail address is veterans@moffatcounty.net. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Other times can be arranged by appointment only. Bring a copy of your separation papers (DD-214) for application for VA programs and for filing at our office.