JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – Veterans of the Vietnam War were honored at a pinning ceremony held on Flag Day at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds located along Route 28 in Brookville.
The well-attended event, held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, opened with a brief welcome and the Presentation of Colors led by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard (pictured above).
Representative Cris Dush, Jefferson County Commissioner Herbert L. Bullers Jr., Jefferson County American Legion Commander Jim McCurdy, Bob Lott of the Punxsutawney VFW, and Representatives of the offices of U.S. Senator Pat Toomey attended the event.
Dianne Welsh, of Representative Cris Dush’s office, sang the National Anthem, those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and John Kuntz of the Reynoldsville American Legion gave the invocation.
![/></p>
<p>Senator Toomey was unable to attend the event but made a video presentation for those in attendance.</p>
<p>“I’m really fortunate to represent nearly one million veterans across Pennsylvania, and our veterans deserve our gratitude and our appreciation, and I am committed to honoring our veterans, many of whom served in the Vietnam and Korean wars,” Senator Toomey said, in the video.</p>
<p>“In addition to recognizing your service, my staff and I are committed to assisting you and your families in other ways. If you or anyone you know requires help with the V.A. or other federal agencies, please contact any of my seven offices across Pennsylvania. I have people on staff who are dedicated to helping veterans obtain services and benefits that they rightly deserve.”</p>
<p>“Your patriotism, your sacrifice, and your service to our nation represent the best of our country, and I thank you for your service.”</p>
<p>Jefferson County Commissioner Herbert L. Bullers Jr. spoke after the video presentation.</p>
<p>“The freedom that we as Americans have is because of what the veterans of the past through the veterans of today and our future veterans have and will do for this great nation,” he said.</p>
<p>“Let me thank you for what you have done, and what you continue to do, to assure that freedom rings loud and clear in the United States of America.”</p>
<p>Representative Cris Dush, himself a veteran of the Air Force, stood to speak next, giving an incredibly stirring and emotional speech.</p>
<p>“The reason we’re here today is because we have a lot of politicians that failed you guys. We have a lot of people who were in leadership positions in this country that failed you guys. This is long overdue,” he began.</p>
<p>Representative Dush shared stories about some of his own experiences in the service, particularly relating to the veterans who went before him.</p>
<p>“We were getting ready to come home [from Baghdad], there were a bunch of us who had lost friends, family, or who had friend and family come back like you guys and experience the disgrace that was put on you guys. We knew we weren’t facing that. We knew we were going to be getting a whole lot better. And, when we came home, there was a lot of guys just like you welcoming us home. Thank you for that,” he said.</p>
<p>“Our country lost faith in you, but you guys never lost faith in us.”</p>
<p><img decoding=](https://exploreclarion.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Natl-Anthem-Dianne-Welsh.png)
