Tewksbury Recognizes Its Vietnam Veterans

Oliva remembered the more than 1,500 who are MIA

Vietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 40 years ago. Earlier today, residents, elected officials and first responders gathered on the Common for a wreath-laying ceremony.

Vinny Oliva, commander of VFW Post 8164, served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970 and led today’s ceremony.

“On National Vietnam War Veterans Day we honor all those who bravely served in the Vietnam War and who sacrificed, as did their families and caregivers,” said Oliva. “We thank you for your service. God bless you and welcome home.”

There are about 1 million Vietnam veterans still alive today, said Oliva. VFW 8164 Auxiliary member Chris Moncada read the names of the six Tewksbury residents who died in Vietnam: SP4 Daniel Kenneth Erlandson, LCPL George Arthur Kyricos, Capt Richard Girard Morin, WO David Michael Morris, SN Luco William Palma and SP4 Robert Everett Spires.

Tewksbury Rep. David Robertson recounted growing up on David Morris Rd., which was named after Vietnam veteran David M. Morris, who was killed in action when his Kiowa helicopter took hostile fire. A plaque remembers his service.

“You sacrificed and put your lives at risk so that I could grow up free,” said Robertson. “I also want to thank everybody that’s turned out, whether our first responders or folks in the community. It’s a rough, raw day, and yet you still turned out to make sure that the Vietnam veterans know that the sins of the past need to be rectified.”

Robertson thanked the veterans and first responders in attendance and addressed the way many Vietnam vets were treated when they returned home.

“And as I grew up, you folks, the ones that taught and raised our generation, made sure that we never repeated that mistake again,” he said.

Current and past elected officials — several of them vets themselves — thanked veterans for their service. L-R, Select Board member Jayne Wellman, Select Board member and disabled vet James Mackey, former Select Board member and Vietnam veteran Joe Gill, Tewksbury Housing Authority member and veteran Ryan Lloyd, School Committee member and military spouse Kayla Biagioni-Smith and School Committee member Katie Anderson.

Residents can see the wreath on display on the Common.