The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 446, and the Daughters of the American Revolution, Martin Severance Chapter are organizing the Pasadena Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Commemoration at Memorial Park.

The Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Commemoration makes no distinction between veterans who served in Vietnam or who were stationed elsewhere during the war. All of them fulfilled their military obligation to our country. Everyone who served during this time deserves our gratitude. On Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m., we will gather in Memorial Park at the Pasadena Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor those who, in President Abraham Lincoln’s words, gave their “last, full measure of devotion.”

The names of 31 sons of Pasadena are engraved on the 4,000-pound black granite monument. The memorial itself has three sides — the Hart Memorial Relief facing an entrance to a sitting area, the westward side with the 31 names from Pasadena killed in Vietnam and the third side has the service medals highlighting the Vietnam Service Medal. The triangle-shaped monument is capped with a bronzed, folded American flag. At the conclusion of the program, we will lay a wreath at Pasadena Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

And each of the Vietnam veterans gathered at the commemoration will be honored with the presentation of an expression of our nation’s gratitude, the National Vietnam War Commemoration-designed Vietnam veteran lapel pin. The lapel pin features an eagle’s head, representing courage, honor and dedicated service; stripes, representing our nation’s flag; and six stars, representing the allies who served, sacrificed and fought alongside one another; all encircled by a ring of blue, matching the canton of our national flag and signifying vigilance, perseverance and justice. The phrase “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You” is embossed on the reverse side.

Some of us have gained a little weight. Some of us do not walk as well. Some of us cannot stand as long anymore. Kneeling is almost impossible. Our feet, knees and back were worn out at an early age.

We realize now that our bodies were put through hell. But looking back, and knowing what we know now, ask any veteran who served during the Vietnam War, and they will say they would do it again.

During the Vietnam War, 26.8 million individuals were subjected to compulsory military service. Most draft-age young men did not serve in the Vietnam War itself,

Of the 8.6 million of us who served during the Vietnam Era, 2.1 million served in Vietnam, 6.4 million of us served during the war but never went to Vietnam.

Twice as many, 16 million, never honored their military obligation to our country. They avoided it and evaded it through deferral, exemption, disqualification or simply violating the law.

So this month we will recognize the 8.6 million Americans who did serve their country during the Vietnam War, the Winter Soldiers of their time.

December 1776 was another time of the Winter Soldiers. The British forces successfully captured New York, forcing Washington’s army into retreat. Over 11,000 American soldiers had deserted. Thomas Paine aimed to inspire patriots to persist and fight for American victory. Within a week of publishing these words, George Washington and his army crossed the Delaware River, won the Battle of Trenton and achieved another victory at Princeton, revitalizing the American cause.

Thomas Paine, Dec. 19, 1776: “These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of men and women.”

The Vietnam War was also a time that tried men’s souls. It was filled with summer soldiers and sunshine patriots who shrunk from the service of our country.

Former Pasadena Mayor William Paparian served on active duty in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and serves today as a captain with the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, California Military Department.