It was the perfect morning for an outdoor, all-Army-post celebration, to honor our American Viet Nam-era veterans, many of whom had still never been thanked, applauded, celebrated, embraced or showered with affection and a giant "Welcome Home Heroes!" parade.

This past Wednesday here at beautiful Fort Knox, we fixed that past injustice to our local brothers and sisters-in-arms with a huge celebration and lots of tears and hugs.   We had a clear blue sky and it was still the cool of the morning when at 0930h we began to assemble from all across post, to come cheer on our heroes from a generation back. 

With a cool breeze blowing and a forecasted high of only 83 degrees F, several thousand of us left work and headed to the parade field, where the Post Commanding General, Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley (pronounced "Frake-ley"), was inviting us all to join with him in a warm and unforgettable "Heroes Welcome" .

These are the welcome signs that greeted the thousands of guests who showed up at Knox this past Wednesday morning, the 26th of  August 2010. 

But who cares about signs in this blog? 

Let me show you the PEOPLE who lined the streets to celebrate their service to this Nation and then the heroes we were there to honor.

This is the early crowd as we began to line the arrival path for the Viet Nam veterans, as they began to line the streets and as the cannon  team stood at the ready (bottom left of the photo above and center stage in the photo below).  Off to the left of this photo was the center point of the celebration and the crowd where we were all headed for the pomp, celebration and thunderous applause.

Then came the  police escort with what seemed to be almost a thousand motorcycles following behind, veterans of all generations of war and service to this Great Country, with the vast majority being Viet Nam veterans. 

The Patriot Guard Riders were there in force for this one....these are the volunteer bikers from across America who honor our American military Soldiers who fall in battle today, by simply escorting their funeral procession at the request of the family, and ensuring that any efforts to disgrace our fallen dead by protesters, are met with a peaceful, lawful, flag-waving, overwhelming presence of support for that Soldier and his family, in an overwhleming para-military reminder of how our veterans honor our American Soliders still long after they themselves have left active duty.  War protestors see these guys, and go to find an easier protest venue...thanks Patriot Guard Riders.

Here are a few of their faces and their bike, as they rode into Fort Knox and saw the crowd that awaited them.  We were all feeling the awe of the moment; the Veterans and the cheering, saluting, flag-waving, celebrating throng.

A close look at the bike and rider above and you will see that on the gas tank he has painted in red letters "Vietnam Vet". 

These old veterans of a nearly forgotten war who returned home to a thankless Nation, still proudly remember their service to these United States of America, and invite the world to know where and when they served: Viet Nam.  The world, in amazement, looks on, stunned that they would dare champion their military service when they were called "baby killers" and spit upon for having served.

But then, these are American Soldiers....and they have the undying courage to stand with honor for their having answered the call in their generation, when over 2/3 of all Soldiers serving were NOT DRAFTEES; coerced into military service against their will.  These were men and women who did exactly what our generation has done today: they have raised their hands to serve when their elected leaders sent them to war.  They served the people...when We the People declared war in Southeast Asia in a land few had ever heard of.

After all the bikers passed through, next came the buses filled with more Veterans and as each bus passed, hands appeared out of the opened bus windows, waving to the crowds their affection and appreciation....bus after bus after bus....hands waiving in gratitude from unseen faces of our celebrated Veterans.

And as the lines of buses passed down the street to the parade field, a huge line of Junior ROTC cadets from Fort Knox High School (3 of my sons amongst their numbers) all stood at attention and saluted these mighty men and women of valor, and all of us watching felt our hearts pounding in our chests for the honor we were just beginning to confer upon these old Soldiers.  And we knew it had just begun, so the best was still to come.

The commander of the JROTC cadets yelle out loudly to his 150 cadets:

"Cadets, ATTENTION!"

"Present ARMS!" 

And up went the salutes of every cadet (see photo below).

In response, the reaching out the windows with hand waving from the bus windows followe, waving to that next generation of Army Soldiers, Leaders, and Heroes their thanks.

This blog is Part I, of a 3-part photo presentation of a wonderful day of honoring our Viet Nam Veterans.  Come back in a day or two, and read parts II and III, just as soon as I can get them written and post the awesome photos of what we saw and shared together that day.  Then go find a veteran or two and send them this blog and let them read, see, celebrate, and live this moment with us.

In part 2 & 3 the story gets even better.  The tears in their eyes reflecting their amazement that so many would come out to welcome them home 35 years + after their first homecoming. 

Welcome Home our Viet Nam Heroes.....Welcome Home.  From all of us at Fort Knox and the surrounding community and from all across America.

When you finish reading through Part 3, there can be no doubt that we love, honor and respect you....every single one of you Amercan Soldier Heroes.