Madison veterans honored by Congressman Dusty Johnson

Fourteen Madison area Vietnam veterans were honored Thursday by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson at the site of the new Veterans Honor Park.  It’s part of a ceremony called the Vietnam Veteran Commemoration Pinning Ceremony and Johnson said it’s an opportunity to honor them for the American heroes that they are.

Johnson invited each of the veterans to come up individually and be recognized.  He talked a little about their service, but asked each veteran to share more about it as well.  Johnson presented them with challenge coins from his office, as well as an official lapel pin with the inscription “a grateful nation thanks and honors you for your service”.  

Johnson said the program is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, as well as the U.S. House of Representatives. He said he’s been able to honor more than four-hundred of these veterans across the state and will continue to do so through the end of the year. 

The fourteen veterans honored Thursday include:  Howard Dachtler, Daniel Fritz, Donald Gause, Joe Grantham, Les Hovrud, William Larson, Skip Martin, Darrel Simon, Christopher Thayer, Roy Lindsay, Jay Leibel, Kim Verhey, Myron Downs, and Larry Sterling.  

 

May 6, 2022