Vietnam Veterans

At Thursday’s parade, the lessons, achievements and horrors from the war were intermeshed with the present. National Salute to Veteran Patients Week honors veterans who live in Community Living Centers (CLCs) or veteran-only nursing homes. It was a joyful celebration with 1960s patriotic swing music and on-brand red, white and blue cake, but bittersweet with memory.

Frank Baux remembers the most recent name added to the Scranton Veterans Memorial. Baux lived five houses down from 19-year-old Larry Johnson in the city. “I saw him before he left,” said Baux, now in his 60s. “I shook his hand, and I told him, ‘Be careful when you go over there.’”

Lycoming County Commissioners proclaimed March 29 as Vietnam War Veterans Day.