Kentuckians are being asked to recognize Vietnam Veterans this week. Governor Beshear proclaimed Monday Vietnam Veterans Day across the Commonwealth. Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Heather French Henry says she's the daughter of a disabled Vietnam Veteran. She says the widespread negative attitude toward soldiers returning from Vietnam was felt by her father and many others. "And it affected him and it affects him still today," said Henry. "Not in as much a way as it did, let's say when I was 15, and he was still having difficulty in transitioning back into society."
There are 118,000 Vietnam Veterans who call Kentucky their home today. French says there remains more work to do to ensure all veterans receive appropriate healthcare services. "Not only do we want to continue to expand services for those who are already in the system, but again, our responsibility is where are those who are missing who aren't in the system, and why aren't they in the system?" asked Henry.
The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War is being recognized this year. 1,109 Kentucky soldiers died in Vietnam. Their names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Frankfort.?
